West Ham Park has been managed by the City of London Corporation since 1874 and this weekend we have been busy celebrating its 150th anniversary. Spanning 77 acres, it is the largest public park in the London Borough of Newham and welcomes millions of visitors each year.
Whilst the City of London Corporation have owned this park for 150 years, the park originally formed part of the estate of Upton House (later known as Ham House) and stretches are far back at 1566. By 1762, the Park was home to a botanical garden which was described as “second only to Kew”, filled with rare plants.
West Ham Park was famously home to Upton Park Football Club and was the site of the first ever FA Cup goal in 1871. Today the park features ornamental gardens, a children’s play area, a range of sporting facilities including five-a-side football pitches, cricket nets and tennis courts.
This weekend a wonderful celebration has taken place, bringing together the diverse community which has loved and helped look after the park for years.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Mayor of Newham, Rokhsana Fiaz OBE spoke warmly about the joy the park had brough to so many in Newham over the past 150 years. She thanked the City of London Corporation for their continued support in investing in the East End of London and improving the health and wellbeing of so many people.
The Policy Chairman of the City of London Corporation recognised that West Ham Park had become a back garden to many people who didn’t otherwise have access to open spaces and that these green spaces that the City has conserved for the past 150 years really were the jewel in the crown of the City Corporation.
The Representative Lord Mayor of London, Alderman Sir Andrew Parmley, spoke fondly of Newham – a place he had lived when he was first married and where his wife was a local teacher. He thanks the many staff and volunteers for their hard work in keeping the Park to such a high standard and wished everyone well for the weekend’s celebrations ahead.
As a Committee Member of West Ham Park, I’d like say congratulations and well done to the Committee Chair, Caroline Haines, the Superintendent, Bill LoSasso and all of the team for putting on such a wonderful celebration – from the events teams, security, cleaning, performers, stall holders, you name it – it was executed brilliantly!
