These are officially the ‘saddest playgrounds’ in London

Londoners have voted for the ‘saddest playgrounds’ in the the city as part of a campaign to highlight the capital’s poor play facilities.

Leyton Square in Peckham, south-east London, and Crystal Palace Park’s playground were picked by residents as ‘most in need of love’.

The Peckham park was of the places Rio Ferdinand used to play football as a youngster.

Children’s charity London Play ran the London’s Saddest Playground campaign and hopes to work with local groups to improve facilities. 

The ‘winners’ will be offered support by the charity, with campaigning and fundraising to improve playgrounds over the next few months.

Resident Mary King, who nominated Leyton Square, explained why she felt the local playground needed vital funding.

She shared: ‘I’m thrilled to win but also saddened that for over six months Leyton Square’s big climbing frame has been a burnt-out shell that truly deserves the title “London’s saddest playground”.

‘The most important thing is that this is a first step towards getting the playground restored to be a place that Southwark’s children are proud to play in.’

A campaign was started by ex-footballer Ferdinand in 2016 to try and save the spot from his childhood. 

However, Mary said it has since appeared to have been forgotten about again with the playground left damaged.

‘I presume it was vandalism, but no one knows what has happened,’ she added. ‘There is still fencing around it. It’s not safe.

‘I’ve seen little kids playing around in the dangerous fences.’

A local councillor has since confirmed the playground is being fixed. 

Crystal Palace Park was nominated by Wilf, 7, with the help of his mum Sarah Sarson.

He called the playground ‘rubbish’ and said: ‘Lots of people use the park and for its size, its playground is rubbish. It only has swings and a sandpit.’

Sarah added: ‘Wilf spotted the call for London’s saddest playground and wanted to send a photo of Crystal Palace in.

‘We know the whole park is due to be improved by the Crystal Palace Park Trust, who are taking it over, but it’s sad that Bromley Council let it fall into such a state over the years. It’s an important space for so many children.’

A close third in the competition was Emerald Square in Ealing, run by housing association A2 Dominion.

London Play’s deputy director Fiona Sutherland noted how ‘vital’ local playgrounds are for children’s health and well-being.

She said: ‘Too many are blighted by neglect, some 35% of parents surveyed in 2019 reported that their local playground had been subject to neglect or closure. 

‘This has only worsened since the outset of the pandemic.’

Just last month parents in Ashford, Kent, complained a new £400,000 play park for children was a ‘danger zone’ and feared kids may hurt themselves.

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