2012 Olympics is Europe's largest park project for 150 years

06 November 2008

Artist's impression of Olympic Park

PLANS for the largest urban park to be built in Europe in 150 years were unveiled today by organisers of the 2012 Olympics.

The £200 million Olympics Park project could match the capital’s other famous urban spaces such as Hyde Park, Regent’s Park and Kew Gardens.

It will stretch two miles along the River Lea from Stratford to Hackney Wick in East London, inspired by Victorian and post-war pleasure and festival gardens.

Focal points include the Olympic Stadium now under construction, the Aquatics Centre, Velopark, a multi-sports arena and an outdoor sport complex.

The southern end will focus on retaining the festival atmosphere from the Games, with riverside gardens, markets, events, cafes and bars.

The north end will have the latest state-of-the-art ‘green’ technology to manage flood and rain water while providing quieter public space and habitats for hundreds of existing and rare wildlife species from kingfishers to otters.