Dukes Meadows and Chiswick House win safety award

Chiswick officially has the safest parks in the capital after two of our local green spaces won gold at the Mayor’s Safer Parks Awards.

W4 was the only area of London to win two gold awards with only 12 being handed out across the whole capital.

The award aims to officially recognise and promote new and existing good practice in tackling anti-social behaviour and increasing safety in London’s parks.

It recognises organisations and local communities, that by working in partnership, have identified a concern and can demonstrate successful action. Both Dukes Meadows and Chiswick House have active local friends' groups who have made a decisive contribution to the massive improvement in the quality of these two public spaces over the last decade.

Boris Johnson said, "A Safer Park Award will offer reassurance as a trusted recommendation for those who want to make the most of their local or favourite park."

Chiswick House and Gardens was praised for a number of initiatives including landscaping measures and a 24-hour warden service to patrol and respond to anti-social behaviour in the park.

According to the citation, ten years ago Dukes Meadows was a 'no-go zone'. Since the local community formed a Friends group, the park has since been transformed with £1m funding and is now a safe, popular place.

May 16, 2011