The arthritic pygmy goats of Clissold Park will be hobbling for joy. Hackney's favourite place, as voted for by borough residents in a 2007 poll, and venue for the yearly Stokefest fun, is set for a £8.9 million revamp.
We brought you the news of Cedric the rabbit last year, whose ears were flapping with excitement about the park winning a significant lottery grant. Well, Hackney Council have ponied up another £4.1 million, and the ball is set to roll next year.
LDA Design will be overseeing the project, which is set to include the renovation of grade-two Clissold House, the restoration of the stretch of New River that flows through the park, a new sport and play area, and a long-overdue refurbishment of the animal enclosures, which currently houses sorry-looking quadrupeds in less than salubrious environs. Perhaps they'll also see about finishing the butterfly house which was built in 2007 yet seldom opens.
It all sounds very promising, but a note of caution: the last time a big-budget project with the word "Clissold" in the title was unveiled, it wasn't exactly a roaring success. It took the Leisure Centre eight years to finally get its house in order, but we're sure that Hackney council will get it right this time, if only for Cedric and his goaty chums' sake.
Image from Peter Blapps' Flickrstream
