London parks get £6m for revamp

The winning parks were selected by a public vote

Eleven parks across the capital have benefitted from a £6m refurbishment grant from London Mayor Boris Johnson.

Burgess Park in Southwark, south London, was allocated £2m while the other 10 parks got £400,000 each.

The green spaces were chosen via a public vote where more than 110,000 people named their choice.

Under the revamp, the parks will get better footpaths, more lighting, refurbished public toilets and new play areas for children.

Calling the response to the 'parks plebiscite' as a "show of people power" Mr Johnson said: "Londoners deserve a better quality of life and making a greener, more attractive city is a top priority."

Many parks will get new cafes and improved cycle routes, while traditional flower gardens will be restored and some parks will provide plots for communities to grow fruit and vegetables.

The 'Help a London Park' programme was launched in November 2008 and 47 parks across London were shortlisted to face the public vote.

The mayor's office said funding for the parks improvement scheme came from the money saved from cutting The Londoner newspaper.

The winning parks:

• Burgess Park in Southwark, south London

• Lordship Recreation Ground in Haringey, north London

• Dollis Valley Green Walk in Barnet, north London

• Mayesbrook Park in Barking and Dagenham, east London

• Fairlop Waters Country Park in Redbridge, east London

• Brent River Park in Ealing, west London

• Little Wormwood Scrubs in Kensington and Chelsea, west London

• Parish Wood Park in Bexley, south-east London

• Avery Hill Park in Greenwich, south-east London

• Crane Riverside Park in Richmond and Hounslow, west London

• Wandle Park in Croydon, south London.