Crystal Palace Park Regeneration Plan progresses as handover of the Park to Crystal Palace Park Trust begins

The concert platform, will be reactivated as a community events and performance space under the management of the trust, which follows the recent renovation of the stage through the community-led #BackTheBowl campaign. Following several years of successful collaboration with the council, the entire park will then transfer to the trust as previously agreed later in the year, in an arrangement designed to ensure effective sustainable long-term management of the park under the regeneration plan.

Philip Kolvin, Co-Chair of the trust, says: “Improving the fortunes of this historic park is a profound responsibility. We accept it on behalf of our community, those born and those yet to come, to whom we hold ourselves accountable.” 

Martin Tempia, co-Chair of the trust, says: “We have worked incredibly hard to prepare for the handover and look forward to starting this process in April by receiving the concert platform and bringing it back into regular use."

Councillor Yvonne Bear, Executive Councillor for Renewal, Recreation and Housing said: “This is an exciting time as we move forward with our much-anticipated plans and this transfer is an important step to ensure a sustainable future for this historic park. We look forward to the Trust taking forward the management of the park following years of partnership working with them, as we continue to collaborate in creating a reinvigorated park that benefits the local community and economy and remains in keeping with its illustrious history.”

The concert platform and its interior will be available for community and commercial hire, with reduced rates for community and user groups.  A concession opportunity offering limited food and drink will be granted this spring, and a number of pop-up and planned community uses will occur throughout 2023.  A future renovation of the platform’s interior to modernise the structure is planned, which will allow for a full concession, as well as wider community access and use.

The council is progressing with the regeneration plan for the park, which includes a number of capital works, including the restoration of the world-famous dinosaurs, creating a new event space on the lower Italian terrace, and numerous improvements to the park’s facilities and green spaces. Find out more about the Plan.

Further details on the trust’s plans for the park: 

• Given the complexities of the park, the handover is being phased over the next few months, with full handover expected to be completed by September, rather than by April as initially targeted.
• The trust has secured new maintenance contractors for following the handover, who will maintain the park on the trust’s behalf according to industry best practice 
• Sustainability is a driving theme in the trust’s new maintenance specifications, with reduced reliance of fossil fuels, increasing recycling rates, grassland management that improves biodiversity, green waste being composted and reused on site, and perennials and wildflowers in key locations 
• The trust will retain concessions within the park, including ice cream, pedalos, and the Sunday market, and will offer new concession opportunities in the coming months and years.
• The trust is expanding its team in preparation of the handover.  Recruitments for the following positions will be released in the coming weeks: Director of Development, Manager of Community Engagement, Senior Park Officer, Senior Events Officer, Communications Officer, and Administrative Officer.  
• Enquiries for commercial and community uses of the concert platform can be sent to the trust at Events@crystalpalaceparktrust.org

Ends

Editors’ notes:

About Crystal Palace Park Trust 

Crystal Palace Park Trust is a registered Charity with a mission to preserve, protect, manage and improve Crystal Palace Park.  The trust was established in 2016 following a years-long community campaign to preserve and regenerate Crystal Palace Park.  The trust’s interim strategy - entitled Connections - lays out its vision for the initial transition period.  

For media enquiries, please contact:

James George, public affairs, on 020 8313 4565 or email james.george@bromley.gov.uk and 

Bill LoSasso, Crystal Palace Park Trust Chief Executive, at contact@crystalpalaceparktrust.org