Streatham Vale Park

See also Facebook page ‘We Love Streatham Vale Park’

The site of Streatham Vale Park at Lonesome, just inside the Lambeth border with Merton, consists of 5.5 acres of land donated to Wandsworth Council in 1925 by R H Miller, the builder of the Vale from Abercairn Road to Eardley Road, for the purpose of creating a park on the site. Although Wandsworth Council had no funds to develop the site, Cllr. Stanley Grist, a member of the SVPOA Committee, threw himself into the Association campaign to build the new Streatham Vale Park which was opened on Friday 26 June 1931.

On opening, the Park consisted of a recreation ground and a wide landscaped area. During WW2 and for some years after, much of the Park was converted into allotments. In 1952 the new bowls green and tennis courts were opened along with a children’s shelter and the Streatham Vale Bowls Club was started.

By the turn of the 21st Century, the Park had drifted into a downward spiral of neglect and dereliction but help was at hand in the form of ‘The Friends of Streatham Vale Park’, started by Karen Davies, Mike Morfey and other enthusiasts in 2003. Many improvements have been carried out, starting with arranging for the existing buildings of the Council run One O’ Clock Club to be decorated with murals painted by volunteers. In 2004 two Fun Days were held and, on the September Fun Day, the Park was reopened by our Member of Parliament, The Rt. Hon. Keith Hill MP.

Keith Hill also generously agreed to chair a new Steering Committee for a number of years which is now chaired by our local Councillors. This has been responsible for many of the recent park improvements in conjunction with the Southwark and Lambeth Groundwork Team which has worked amazingly to produce a new ‘Masterplan’ for the complete refurbishment of the Park.

Also, since 2004, the ‘Friends’ have held a Fun Day at least once each year.

Fun day photos for 2007 

Children's storyteller in action	Cllr Malley and Keith Hill select raffle winners	Friends committee
Kiddies in the One O' Clock Club enclosure	Local residents	Refreshments
Rt. Hon Keith Hill MP picks raffle tickets	Safer Neighbourhoods Team relaxes	Stall holders wares for sale

Fun day photos for 2009

Big Pictures!!	Children enjoy bouncy castle	Children queue for face painter	Cllr. Kazantzis takes a break
FoSVP members on planting day	Ghanaian Drum group	Groundwork Team impress visitors	Keith Hill and Mayor of Lambeth start planting
Keith Hill cuts tape	Magician enthrals children	Official opening party with Ghanaian Drum Group	Refreshments on hand
Residents look for bargains	Safer Neighbourhoods Team keep order

At the present time the Park facilities include the One O’ Clock Club, a supervised club for young children, an adjacent supervised ‘Adventure Playground’ for older children and an unsupervised play area with climbing frames, swings and slides for infants. The existing tennis courts have been resurfaced and new nets provided.

At the side of the Park, the whole of Lonesome Way and the old derelict land at the side have been completely refurbished with new railings, planting organised by the Groundwork Team, a pedestrian pavement and new street lighting.

At the planning stage now is the creation of a new sensory garden, for which funds are being sought from the Big Lottery Fund, where the existing disused bowls green is now situated. A decision on the future use of the Park Pavilion is also under consideration.  

Children's swings and climbing frame	Kiddies climbing frame	Large sports and play area
Lower entrance Lonesome Way	Main entrance Abercairn Road	Meeting point
Quiet sitting area	Runway adventure playground	Swing Adventure playground