Avondale Park

The public toilets in Avondale Park are currently closed due to vandalism. We are working to try and resolve this as soon as we can. We apologise for the inconvenience caused. Please also note that no barbecues are permitted in the park.

About Avondale Park

Avondale Park is a staffed park with the following facilities:

• formal gardens
• children’s play areas
• mall wildlife area
• games area (5-a-side football, netball and tennis)
• public toilet

Address:

Walmer Road W11

Opening times:

7.30am until dusk.

Conservation activities

Avondale Park is a site of importance for nature conservation. The wildlife area had a biodiversity makeover which included several improvements, like:

• a new path
• planting of a native hedge
• restoration of an old bog garden
• planting of native woodland bulbs
• fruit trees

With an aim to improve biodiversity in the park, a grass-free lawn was created . This contains flowers of all different types to add a mix of pollen, scent and colour.

Book to play sports

You can book the games area at Avondale Park to play football, netball or tennis.

To book or for more information call 020 7602 2226 or email [email protected]

Avondale Park Consultation 2021

Over the last few months, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea has been consulting with the local community about potential improvements to Avondale Park. This has been collected through an initial ideas and feedback period and focus groups sessions with internal and external stakeholders. 

We have used the feedback from the first two phases of the consultation to shape the third phase: a structured formal consultation (survey) with the wider community.

Read the results from the consultation.

Consultation Plan

By clicking below you can find further information on how and when we plan to speak to people about park improvements. 

Avondale Park Improvements timeline

The Avondale Park improvements timeline below gives further information on how and when we plan to speak to people about park improvements. 

Phase 1 - Listening

April-June 2021

• Recognise and contact internal and external stakeholders for initial input
• Initial ideas through focus group sessions with local community groups
• Review initial ideas and feedback and then collate and present themes back to stakeholders

Phase 2 - Exploring

June-September 2021

• Broader formal consultation through surveys, meetings and events using initial ideas as a foundation
• Work with community and participation groups with peer to peer consultation
• Review findings from broader formal consultation and present back to the community

Phase 3 - Formulating

September onwards

• Hold participatory exercises (co-led design approach)
• Plan improvements using a phased approach
• Review of consultation process
• Updates through meetings and updates on social media/website
• Begin drafting scope of works
• Begin tendering for larger aspects of the project

Phase 4 - Sharing

November onwards

• Present contractor designs to community groups and focus groups for feedback
• Finalise designs and organise plan of works with awarded contractors
• Communicate timelines with stakeholders
• Updates through meetings and updates on social media/website

Phase 1 & 2 – Summary of Initial Ideas/Feedback and Focus Group Sessions

Prior to this consultation we held a series of discussion groups in spring 2021, where members of the Parks Team met with local community groups to discuss issues and proposals for the park. Key findings from these discussions can be found below.

Comments and ideas have been summarised into different categories (a full list of feedback can be requested at [email protected])

Phase 1 – Summary of Focus Group Sessions and Feedback

Outdoor Gym/Sport

• Introduce a new outdoor gym in the park
• Beneficial for the health and wellbeing of the local community
• A space which is exclusively fitness focused
• Specific requests: better range of pull up bars, TRX suspension ropes, space for stretching and skipping
• Gives users an area to train if they can’t afford a traditional gym membership.
• Introduce a basketball hoop
• Improve open recreational spaces

Playgrounds

• The playgrounds need a greater range of play equipment
• Introduce fencing around the play area
• Specific comments about the type of equipment which they would like to see included: swings, climbers, slides (include mound), zip wire, house and play, hammock, seesaw
• Safety surfacing needs to be replaced

Horticultural Improvements

• Re-seeding of grass/turf throughout
• Fenced off planting areas need improvements
• Improvements to flowers, trees and hedges
• Introduce sensory garden features
• Possible introduction of a community garden

Buildings/Kiosk

• The range and type of food and drink on offer could be improved
• Café open more consistently
• Improvements to seating area/s
• Refurbishments to the toilet and changing facilities
• Improve accessibility options for users

Dogs

• Introduce a dog exercise area
• Remove/add/move dog toilets
• Find methods to encourage dog owners to pick up after their dog

Other

• Install water fountain
• Add more benches/picnic benches/bird feeders
• Improve footpaths
• Improve lighting
• Improvements to water feature

If you require a more detailed summary of the findings from the focus groups please email [email protected]

History of Avondale Park

Avondale Park was created in 1892 when the area that had been a huge fetid pool known as "the ocean" was finally built on. This former area of slurry was part of the notorious Piggeries. It was also the location of tile kilns and brickfields.

The site was bought from the Adams family in 1889. After the seven foot excavations were filled in, there was an opening ceremony on 2 June 1892. The name, Avondale Park, is in memory of the recently deceased Duke of Clarence and Avondale.

Contact us

View the contact details for parks.