The Friends of Coney Hall Park have a long history of community service: providing new equipment in the playground; enhancing the natural environment with litter picks and gardening sessions; helping to create the community orchard, butterfly banks and a nature trail; holding fun events for the community; consulting and fundraising for ‘Play for All’, our biggest and most ambitious project. We need lots of support, so please help us.

We are ready to start Phase One, the re-development of the two dilapidated tennis courts closest to the car park. We now have the funds for this part of our project and approval from Bromley Council. The work is planned to start after the Lawn Tennis Association’s current refurbishment of the other four tennis courts finishes. It will be overseen by Idverde (Bromley Council’s Parks Management Contractors.) The Friends of Coney Hall Park have recently campaigned to Bromley, so that hopefully they will fund widening a gate. This means the four tennis courts being refurbished can potentially be wheelchair accessible.

PHASE ONE. This includes the creation of a ‘learn to ride’ circuit for young children and the installation of three concrete table tennis tables. The area will be enhanced by the removal of two unsightly fences and the planting of a natural barrier, providing a new habitat for wildlife and gardening opportunities for our wider community. (Parklands nursery children are nurturing nearly fifty young trees for this.) Our plans include creating a breathable path through the trees to ensure the new play area is accessible to all. This means no more climbing down those steep concrete steps! This will then enable the other four tennis courts to be accessible for the first time too. This is our priority, so please donate now, so we can get on with this element as soon as possible.

PHASE TWO is what we urgently need help with. We hope to start early in 2024, but desperately need more funds. This involves extending an unused area of hard standing and building a Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) where youngsters can play football or basketball. A seating area will provide a safe place for them to sit and chat with friends, or for parents whilst watching younger children play.

HOW ARE WE DOING SO FAR? We have a small but determined committee, but would love some new members to join us. Here are a few of the more recent fundraising achievements and our current plans:

September 2023 – Focus on applying for more grants and setting up other crowd funding / match funding opportunities.

April 2023 – Our first Inflatables Day was a huge success and raised approx. £3,500 with people saying they had never seen so many families having fun in the park. The event was part funded by a £300 Coronation Grant from Bromley Council. Local businesses and families donated prizes for our raffle and the DJ helped to create a real party atmosphere. Watch out for future dates, but please volunteer to help as we always need more support.

March 2023 - Our second Coney Hall Ball was a fabulous evening and raised a staggering £9,500! Thanks to everyone who bought raffle tickets or donated raffle prizes / auction lots. Every one of you helped us to make the staggering profit we achieved. The evening was sponsored by Bromley Property Company and the Flooring Centre, Coney Hall.

March 2023 - We were awarded a £12,000 grant from Bromley Council's Friends Initiative Fund.

January 2023 - We heard we'd been successful in applying for a Platinum Jubilee Grant of £20,000. Huge thanks to Idverde, our Ward Councillors, Coney Hall residents Association, St John's Church and Nash College for supporting our application. it just goes to show, if you don't ask, you don't get!

Added to the money we had already raised at previous events and on this just giving page, the Friends of Coney Hall Park have raised approximately £57,000. That is a staggering amount, especially as £45,000 has been raised this year, so far!

However, we need to raise a lot more money if we are to achieve our goal and complete both phase one AND phase two of our project, as soon as possible.

email chpball@hotmail.com

*the above pictures are illustrative designs

NEED & EVIDENCE - There are insufficient facilities for young people, with little to promote informal play /sports. Increasing anti-social behaviour in the park: drug use, vandalism and graffiti is reported to Bromley / police. The need for better facilities is evidenced by F.O.C.H.P consultation. Our survey of 142 people showed 94.3% were in favour of building a MUGA (5% didn’t mind & 0.7% against.) Further consultation showed overwhelming support for the other activities. Last Summer local parents installed basketball and football goals on disused tennis courts. This was very popular and showed local demand. It was used by all ages, but caused noise disturbance and safety concerns for some. Our proposal meets demand, with noisier activities located away from housing. In December 2022, our online survey had nearly 400 responses, showing overwhelming support for our project.

BENEFIT - This will increase physical activity, provide social interaction, promoting mental health and wellbeing. It will enhance links between the F.O.C.H.P. and local youngsters, potentially reducing antisocial behaviour. Two dilapidated areas will be significantly improved, with residents of all ages helping to enhance biodiversity in the natural environment.

PARTNERS AND TIMESCALE - F.O.C.H.P. will work: with Idverde, Bromley Council and several organisations including the Resident's Association, EACH, Nash College, St John's Church, local schools and guide / scout groups. Additional grant funding will be sought from Idverde approved funders. The anticipated timescale is within the next financial year.

Please support our 'play for all' project in any way you can, so that we all benefit from this wonderful initiative! If you don't want to make a cash donation but would rather support us in some other way, please email coneyhallfophotmail.com.

Together, we can make a real difference!