Crystal Palace Park is in the running for a massive £17.5m facelift
Plans to give the famous Grade-I listed dinosaur sculptures in Crystal Palace Park a massive revamp have been submitted to the council and are currently being considered.
Once confirmed, the plans would see a £17.5million investment to restore many of the park’s original Victorian features.
Included in the proposals are a restoration of the Geological Court, which is home to the 30 dinosaur sculptures.
Gardeners will remove overgrown vegetation to reveal the original features of the dinosaurs as well as introducing a new layer of rock and gravel formations to compliment the prehistoric forms.
The Italian Terraces, which fell into disrepair after the Crystal Palace was destroyed by fire in 1936, will be improved and upgraded as well as the lower part of the Paxton Axis – the canopied walkway near Penge gate.
The first phase will see a new information centre and a dinosaur-themed play area to replace the current children’s play park.
The project is being led by Hackney Wick-based housing design company HTA Design, which was selected by Bromley council in June last year to manage the initial phase of a wider £52million project.
HTA landscape director Natalia Roussou said: “Delivering the Regeneration Plan will re-establish the international significance of this iconic London Park, celebrating its rich history, restoring connections to nature, and creating environmental resilience so that the park can be enjoyed now and in the future.”
Recent works on the park have been managed between Bromley council, The Crystal Palace Park Trust and HTA Design, as well as volunteers and park users.
If approved, work on the first phase is expected to start in 2025.
Picture: Italian Terraces proposal, aerial view (Picture: HTA Design)