January 26 - The Olympic Park will be a "stunning green oasis" to be proud of after the 2012 Games when it is turned into London's largest new urban park in more than a century, officials claimed today.


The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) announced details of work already under way in transforming around 250 acres of former industrial land in East London as part of a £200 million project.

More than 4,000 trees will fill the parklands and temporary wildflower meadows, and avenues of trees and hedges are to be planted to provide a welcoming entrance.

New plans developed with the Olympic Park Legacy Company also include hanging gardens set 30 foot above ground on the huge footbridge from Stratford City, with meadows, lawns, shrubs and rows of trees welcoming people over the main walking entrance into the Park.

A tree-lined road into the north of the Park is modelled on The Mall and Birdcage Walk in central London.

There will also be a new regional sports club set in parkland, with a tranquil garden square centred on the original Eton Manor Boys Club war memorial and lined with sweet gum trees which turn red around Remembrance Day.

More than 300,000 wetlands plants and hundreds of thousands of flowers and bulbs in varied parklands are also to be included in wooded hills, meadows, ponds, lawns, gardens and wet woodlands.

The Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell said: "The Olympics will create a stunning green oasis in East London that in legacy will join the long list of world famous parks London is so lucky to have.

"Nowhere else will feature like the great British garden, wetlands and new wildlife habitats sit side by side with world class sports facilities.

"This will be a destination that the whole nation can be proud of."

ODA chief executive David Higgins said: "We are cleaning up industrial land and creating the green backdrop for the London 2012 Games that in legacy will become the UK ’s largest new urban park in over a century.
 
"Inspired by the original Victorian parks, the meadows, gardens, woods and river walks in this new ‘great park’ will create a fantastic public space for people and wildlife right at the heart of the transformation of East London."

Sebastian Coe, the chairman of London 2012, said: "With a little over two years to go until the Olympic and Paralympic Games come to London, the further regeneration of East London continues apace and our vision of a new urban parkland is developing before our eyes.

"After the Games have gone, an incredible legacy will be left – not least a family-friendly park with state of the art sporting facilities transforming this area for London , creating and serving new communities for generations to come."


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