Brand new play equipment and sporting facilities in Dagenham’s Valence Park formally opened to the public today (Tuesday 26 March), after council funding totalling £39,000 helped to make the project a reality.

An opening ceremony took place in Valence Park this afternoon to mark the occasion, where a whole host of activities were on offer to residents.

Play Innovation installed a brand new ‘Hype Court’ as part of the park’s renovation, which features artistic court markings, sensory basketball backboards, and fun educational and family focused games. They were in attendance, providing families and children with an induction about how to play ‘wallball’ with the new equipment.  

The formal part of the launch saw Councillor Darren Rodwell, Leader of Barking and Dagenham Council, speaking alongside Matt Roebuck from London Sport and Lisa Adams – a local mum who helped put together the plans to improve Valence Park and raised funds for over two years.

This was followed by a five minute community workout for those in attendance, as well as a gym induction and a mini basketball tournament involving players from British Basketball League side the London Lions.

The improvement works to Valence Park have seen the old play area equipment removed and replaced with brand new multi-play climbing units, swings, a roundabout, new seating, rubber safety surfacing, and a state-of-the-art outdoor gym area from The Great Outdoor Gym Company. Floodlighting for the basketball court has also been installed and funded by Sport England.

This project was made possible thanks to funding totalling £269,598. £140,000 of that money was provided by The London Marathon Charitable Trust, while the remainder has come from Veolia (£59,999), Sport England (£25,000), crowdfunding (£5,599) and match funding from Barking and Dagenham Council (£39,000). The London Marathon Charitable Trust have also provided a further £10,000 to help meet the cost of providing organised sport and recreation sessions at the new facility.

"I’d like to thank all of the organisations and individuals who contributed the funding to make this possible"

Councillor Saima Ashraf, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Community Leadership and Engagement, is pleased to see that the revamped recreation area is open to the public:

“The new play area and sporting facilities at Valence Park look absolutely fantastic and I am delighted that residents are now able to start using them,” she said.

“I’d like to thank all of the organisations and individuals who contributed the funding to make this possible.”