• Download Quicktime file
• Download Windows Media Video file

Presenter

Welcome to Crystal Palace. I'm Tilman Latz.
Over the past few months along with you, we've been putting together a vision for the Park, for the 21st century. This park has a fabulous heritage. It's an important part of London's landscape. But as you can you see, from the improvements to the station, there is a lot we can do to shape the park. What we want to see is more turf and less tarmac. More parkland. A park that's more accessible. A park for local people which also reflects its national and potential international importance. And for the last few months that's what you been telling us you want to.

Woman 1

I think that the children's playground could be improved. I mean it's quite good. But I think it sometimes has a kinda drab feeling about it.

Man 1

More climbing stuff in the woods and that, you know like swings, little sort of tidy holes that the kids can run around in really.

Man 2

I think it's a great place to be and I think you know it will attract a lot more families if they spend money here. It's certainly way under developed and under utilised.

Boy

They need to sort out and clean out the river bit. The ponds and stuff.

Woman 2

I must say the toilets needs sorting out as well.

Woman 3

Importantly I think, there should be some kind of revamping of some nature. The old Crystal Palace itself site. Just something else that appreciates really the historical context.

Presenter

There are 5 core principles, which have guided how we have put our masterplan for the park together. We want a park which brings the past and the future together.

We want a park which builds on past sporting and other events, to make sure it's still a prime venue in the future. It got to be sustainable, both to its environment and the community that it serves. And accessible and well connected to the surrounding area. And there is a great need to make it a place where people can learn and have fun.

A good example where all this comes together is here, one of the greatest challenges for me, the site where the old Crystal Palace once stood. We've captured the essence of the Palace by creating a space to enjoy. Over 400 trees, marking out the shape of the Palace and its internal chambers.

Combined with glass houses which frame again the superb Italian terraces and strengthen the amazing space and appearance. Opening up the views. A space for events. A new museum, over the entrance to the subway. Improving connections to surrounding areas, such as the Norwood triangle.

Today, all this concrete around the stadium and the national sports centre, splits the park in two. By demolishing the concrete structures, and raising the level of the land, the central walkway, a key feature of Paxton’s design, will be opened up, and we will bring the park together again. What this will also do, is bring sport to the heart of the Park, in a way which is well integrated with the surrounding parkland.

Today, much of the park is dominated by car parks and roads. We're going to make this green and open. Real parkland, more diverse in its ecology, with places for people of all ages to enjoy.

Crystal Palace Park holds a special place in the hearts of people around the world. It's a dynamic place. A place that with your help, we can ensure continues to be loved, by future generations.

-End of transcript-