Camden publishes ‘design options’ for Crabtree Fields public park

Camden Council has published “design options” for Crabtree Fields ahead of further and continuing community engagement on a redesign of the public open space.

At a meeting last month residents and users of the public park, which is located on the corner of Colville Place and Whitfield Street, were shown drawings of possible changes, and those designs are now available to view on the project website.

The proposals put forward include removing the existing pergola, removing some trees and dense vegetation, and widening walkways and one of the entrances.

A new children’s play area would be created and a new, taller central pergola would be built.

“One of the core goals of this design is to increase visibility and site (sic) lines throughout the park,” state designers DSDHA who are working for Camden Council.

“The proposed scheme opens up areas of dense planting and decreases the planting on the pergola. These changes will allow the park user to see from the back to front of the park throughout the year.”

To achieve this the initial design plan includes seven alterations to the layout of the park:

1. Removing the existing pergola and replacing it with a simpler design that is higher and features a metal trellis for greenery, so that “the structure no longer creates a divide between the grove [gravel area] and the lawn”.
2. Widening the southeast entrance towards the southern boundary wall, creating “a more open and inclusive relationship between the park and the street”. The fencing along the walkway will be removed, allowing park users to walk in various directions.
3. Removal of the “smaller, poorly established trees” in the grove to create “openings for tables and chairs whilst decreasing darkness and bird droppings”.
4. Increasing the planting around the edge of the play area and adding nature trails within, so that “kids can safely interact with nature”. The proposed new play area includes “benches for supervising parents and guardians and a fence separating play from the remainder of the park”.
5. Along the east of the park planting will be “lowered and a minimalist, permeable fencing be installed”. This change “opens up the front of the park, allowing users to see through the boundary wall. The planting scheme will also take advantage of the sunlight in this location”.
6. The proposed northern boundary “maintains the existing fencing and mature hedge planting whilst trimming back and offering more space for the lawn and user movement”.
7. The proposed scheme keeps some of the existing benches and replaces others with “informal options throughout the gardens”. The bins would be replaced with “larger options with lids to avoid rubbish falling out”.

The designs, if given the go ahead, will radically change the historic layout of the park, and remove much of the habitat for wildlife. The park is home to a variety of small birds, and bats can be seen flying above the park after sunset.

The next public engagement workshop will be held at 5.30pm on Thursday 18 July 2024 at Fitzrovia Community Centre, 2 Foley Street, London W1W 6DL. Further information on the Crabtree Fields project website.