The 14-acre, Grade II listed Myatt’s Fields Park has received £77,500 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and £20,000 from Lambeth council to secure its future. The money will help the charity that runs the park to develop long-term income.
After a £3 million renovation by HLF and the council in 2009, local people developed a café, food-growing in a greenhouse, cooking and community events. Recent budget cuts have seen local people work with the council to manage the park and raise income from weddings and sports bookings.
Myatt’s Fields Park Project chair Marjorie Landels said: “When I first got involved 20 years ago, we were a group of local people who just wanted to improve the playground. Now we’re working in partnership with Lambeth to manage the park.”
Jim Dickson, council cabinet member for the voluntary sector, partnerships and community safety said the council values community organisations that have stepped up to manage assets in a time of austerity.
“We believe it is vital that a diverse range of people can have a say in how these community assets are run, and we support MFPP in developing new ways to empower a wide range of people to play a part in the management of our borough.”
