Clissold Park User Group
(CPUG)
The Clissold Park User Group (CPUG) is a local community group for the people of Stoke Newington in Hackney who appreciate and love their local park.
The group has been campaigning locally for almost 20 years and seeks to represent the interests of everyone who uses this very popular park: the walkers, joggers, cyclists, nature lovers, families and free spirits who value the opportunity to enjoy time outdoors in this beautiful and historic space.
For general enquiries and to be added to the CPUG mailing list:
» Email clissoldpug@googlemail.com
A bright new House and park
On the 3rd of January 2012 the cafe in the newly restored eighteenth century Mansion House in the park re-opened after being closed for exactly two years.
This marks the culmination of an ambitious project costing £9 million to revitalise the park and bring the House back into public use.
The work has included:
• building a new playground and wheels park which opened in the summer of 2011;
• reinstating part of the New River which used to flow through the park;
• dredging the two ponds;
• installing two new bridges;
• restoring the old bowling pavilion as an education centre;
• planting hundreds of new trees and restoring views and vistas that had long-since disappeared;
• Restoration of the House. The extended cafe, now on two floors and including step-free access, provides delicious food in a beautiful environment. The rest of the house is available for private hire and for affordable hire by local community groups.
The user group is hugely proud of its involvement in this project which began several decades ago and which has continued and increased over the years.
We are grateful to Hackney Council for partially funding and for managing this project and for the extent to which they have listened to us and responded to us over the last few years. We are also grateful to the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Big Lottery for their funding and support.
The most important thing now is how the park and house are run and managed over the coming years and the User Group is delighted that, after many years of campaigning, there will now be a senior member of Council staff with responsibility for both the house and the park. We are in discussions with the Council about how we can ensure much greater involvement of local people in the future running of the park, perhaps through some new governance and ownership structures.
Latest news...
» Read our latest Newsletter
The Cafe opened on 3rd January 2012
The new Cafe terrace (right)
The Pump House kiosk at the White House Gate opened on 4th January 2012
Guided tours of the House
These will be taking place on Saturdays and Tuesdays during February led by Council staff and members of the User Group.
» To book a tour or to discuss room hire email Emma Finch
Wheels park open
Problems with water seepage in the wheels park have been resolved and it reopened in early December.
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