Crystal Palace Park among two named as London’s saddest playgrounds

On Valentine’s Day, both playgrounds were deemed the playgrounds “most in need of love” as part of the children’s charity London Play’s Saddest Playground campaign.

The campaign was launched in a bid to raise awareness of poor play facilities in London and is offering to work with the groups who nominated their local playgrounds to improve them in the coming months.

Playground user seven-year-old Wilf described the nominated Crystal Palace Park playground as “rubbish” with scant options of things to play in.

Wilf explained: “Lots of people use the park and, for its size, its playground is rubbish.

“It only has swings and a sandpit.”

The seven-year-old nominated the playground with the help of his mother, Sarah Sarson, after finding out about the campaign.

Sarah described how the call for nominations drove Wilf to want to send a photo of Crystal Palace Park playground for nomination to the charity.

Crystal Palace Park playground (Image: London Play)

Sarah said: “Wilf spotted the call for London’s saddest playground and wanted to send a photo of Crystal Palace in.

“It’s an important space for so many children.”

In Southwark, Leyton Square was nominated by Mary King who admitted to feeling both “saddened” and “thrilled” that the park had been given the title of London’s “saddest playground”.

She described the climbing frame as “a burnt-out-shell” that earned the title of London’s “saddest playground”.

However, she added that she had hopes that this title would work towards improving the playground for Southwark children.

Mary said: “I’m thrilled to win but also saddened that for over six months Leyton Square’s big climbing frame has been a burnt-out shell that truly deserves the title ‘London’s saddest playground’.

“The most important thing is that this is a first step towards getting the playground restored to be a place that Southwark’s children are proud to play in.”

A spokesperson for the London Play charity claimed that around 35 per cent of parents surveyed in 2019 reported that their nearby playground had either been closed or neglected which the charity say has “worsened” over the pandemic.

The charity is also calling for Londoners to inform them about poor play services, policies and facilities in their area.

Leyton Square in Southwark (Image: London Play)

As well as poor quality playgrounds that could include after school clubs, holiday play schemes under threat with closure or reductions, or too many signs prohibiting play on a housing estate.

London Play’s deputy director Fiona Sutherland said: “Local playgrounds are vital for children’s health and well-being, but too many are blighted by neglect.

“Some 35 per cent of parents surveyed in 2019 reported that their local playground had been subject to neglect or closure.

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“This has only worsened since the outset of the pandemic.

“Play is too often seen as a luxury instead of what it is: a vital cornerstone for thriving children and thriving communities too.

“We are looking forward to working with the winning groups to campaign successfully for investment in play – and in the process turn London’s saddest playgrounds into London’s gladdest playgrounds in the coming year”.