Kensington Memorial Park
Please note no barbeques are permitted in the park.
About Kensington Memorial Park
Kensington Memorial Park is a staffed park with the following facilities:
- pleasant formal areas
- a children’s playground
- tennis, football, junior cricket and One O’clock club (managed by Family and Children’s Services)
- public toilets
A kiosk is open during the summer months.
New outdoor gym opening Saturday 20 August
Come along and see what equipment is at the new, free outdoor gym being opened by the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Janet Evans at noon. Staff will be on hand to offer advice and help using the equipment from 11.30am to 2pm.
Address
St Mark’s Road, W10
Opening times
7.30am until dusk
Kensington Memorial Park Water Play Area
The Water play area is closed for the winter and will reopen for summer 2023.
The waterplay will open in two-hour sessions to allow for additional cleaning and system checks throughout the day.
The session times will be as follows except Tuesdays when we open later at 12pm:
- Session 1 10:30am to 12:30pm
- Session 2 1pm to 3pm
- Session 3 3.30pm to 5:30pm
On Tuesday the sessions will be:
- Session 1 12pm to 1.30pm
- Session 2 2pm to 3.30pm
- Session 3 4pm to 5.30pm
The water play will close between sessions for extra cleaning and maintenance.
Book to play sports
You can book to play sports at Kensington Memorial Park.
To book or for more information call 020 7602 2226 or email K&[email protected].
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- Kensington Memorial Park Masterplan consultation 2021
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We asked
We asked for your views on the existing features in Kensington Memorial Park with the aim of making improvements throughout the park using the feedback and ideas from the local community. The consultation was split into three phases; Initial Ideas and Feedback, Focus Group Sessions and a formal survey. Idea and comments have been split into categories according to the type of activity they represent – future of park buildings, sport and fitness facilities, other proposals and playground improvements.
You said
Future of park buildings:
- Support for housing the café/kiosk in a new building near its existing location. The new building is also intended to house the sports changing rooms, public toilets, Changing Places toilet and grounds maintenance office. 50 per cent of respondents supported this proposal versus 36 per cent who supported housing the café/kiosk in the refurbished toilet block. 13 per cent of respondents did not support either of these options.
- No clear support for a preferred use for the refurbished toilet block. 40 per cent of respondents outlined that they did have a preferred use versus 60 per cent who said that they did not have a preferred use. Respondents who did not support either option were asked to provide alternative ideas and out of those 11 supported having the changing rooms next to the football pitch.
- Out of the respondents who had another preferred use for the refurbished toilet block the top three responses were to refurbish into a well maintained toilet block (13 responses), transform into a café (10 responses) and extend the building to house changing rooms (9 responses).
Sport and fitness facilities:
- Support for installing an outdoor gym with a mix of calisthenics and machine equipment near St Mark’s Road. 64 per cent of respondents supported this proposal versus 20 per cent against and 16 per cent who were neutral.
- Support for modifying one of the tennis courts to include basketball nets and line markings. 57 per cent of respondents supported this proposal versus 24 per cent against and 19 per cent who were neutral.
- Support for installing anti-glare spill floodlights around the tennis courts. 52 per cent of respondents supported this proposal versus 19 per cent against and 29 per cent who were neutral.
- Support for installing a junior fitness circuit to replace teenager play items near St Mark’s Road. 50 per cent of respondents supported this proposal versus 22 per cent against and 29 per cent who were neutral.
Other proposals:
- Support for installing a dog agility area in the picnic table area to the south of the tennis courts. 50 per cent of respondents supported this proposal versus 28 per cent against and 21 per cent who were neutral. 14 people also commented that dogs need to be able to use all space in the park.
- There was no clear support for installing a new hard footpath around one of the grass areas. 47 per cent of respondents supported this proposal versus 32 per cent against and 21 per cent who were neutral.
Children’s playground improvements
Toddler Playground:
- Satisfaction with current toddler playground: A net total of 45 per cent (6 per cent very satisfied, 39 per cent satisfied) of respondents were satisfied with the current junior playground. A net total of 22 per cent (19 per cent dissatisfied, 3 per cent very dissatisfied) of respondents were dissatisfied with the current toddler playground.
- Types of equipment to include in toddler playground proposals: The most popular play options were swings, a slide and climbing. The least popular options were hanging, spinning and balancing.
Junior Playground:
- Satisfaction with current junior playground: A net total of 44 per cent (9 per cent very satisfied, 35 per cent satisfied) of respondents were satisfied with the current junior playground. A net total of 22 per cent (19 per cent dissatisfied, 3 per cent very dissatisfied) of respondents were dissatisfied with the current junior playground.
- Types of equipment to include in junior playground proposals: The most popular play options were a zip wire, climbing and swings. The least popular options were spinning, balancing and bouncing.
Shade and shelter from the elements in the children’s playground:
- Support for providing shade and shelter. 82 per cent of respondents said they would like more areas that provide shade and shelter versus 13 per cent against.
You can read more in the full consultation report.
Document
We did
The results will be used to help with the scope and priority of the works and Council will be working to establish a Kensington Memorial Park Steering Group and other sub groups to prioritise and implement supported works where possible.
Results updated 18 Oct 2021
- Kensington Memorial Park Improvements timeline
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The Kensington Memorial Park improvements timeline below gives further information on how and when we plan to speak to people about park improvements.
Phase 1 - Listening
April-June 2021
- Recognise and contact internal and external stakeholders for initial input
- Initial ideas through focus group sessions with local community groups
- Review initial ideas and feedback and then collate and present themes back to stakeholders
Phase 2 - Exploring
June-September 2021
- Broader formal consultation through surveys, meetings and events using initial ideas as a foundation
- Work with community and participation groups with peer to peer consultation
- Review findings from broader formal consultation and present back to the community
Phase 3 - Formulating
September onwards
- Hold participatory exercises (co-led design approach)
- Plan improvements using a phased approach
- Review of consultation process
- Updates through meetings and updates on social media/website
- Begin drafting scope of works
- Begin tendering for larger aspects of the project
Phase 4 - Sharing
November onwards
- Present contractor designs to community groups and focus groups for feedback
- Finalise designs and organise plan of works with awarded contractors
- Communicate timelines with stakeholders
- Updates through meetings and updates on social media/website
Progress so far
Prior to this consultation we held a series of discussion groups in spring 2021, where members of the Parks Team met with local community groups to discuss issues and proposals for the park. Key findings from these discussions can be found below.
- Phase 1 – Summary of Focus Group Sessions and Feedback
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Comments and ideas have been summarised into different categories (a full list of feedback can be requested at [email protected])
Buildings/kiosk
- Refurbish toilet block for other use
- New building to house complementary park facilities
- Provide covered seating area
- near café/kiosk
- Provide improved disabled toilets
Outdoor fitness / sport
- Install outdoor gym near St Marks Rd (2020 consultation)
- Mix of calisthenics and machine-based equipment (2020 consultation)
- Install fitness focussed junior trim trail circuit for young people
- Introduce basketball hoops
- Don’t prioritise funds for tennis court floodlights
Playgrounds
- Provide more challenging equipment for juniors
- Improve offer for disabled users
- Specific comments about playground items including zip wire, swings, climbing equipment
- Provide places for parents to sit and shelter from elements
Dogs
- Feedback about proposed dog exercise area
- Keep dogs away from sports pitch (when in use)
- Try new methods to encourage people to pick up after their dog
Planting
- Park too small for community garden
- Wildflower planting on peripheral verges
- Introduce sensory planting
Other
- Install water fountain
- Install more peripheral footpaths
- Improve seating and access for people with mobility issues
- Farmer’s market not supported in park
If you require a more detailed summary of the findings from the focus groups please email [email protected].
Closed Kensington Memorial Park Consultation 2020
We previously asked for your views on improvements to the water play area and proposals for a new outdoor gym at Kensington Memorial Park.
View feedback from this consultation.
Closed Kensington Memorial Park Consultation 2019
We sent out a survey asking about possible improvement to the buildings in the park. We have now analysed the results.
You can read the reports to find out what people said about the park.
History of Kensington Memorial Park
Kensington Memorial Park has been a public park since 1926 when it was opened to the public by Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll.
The land was bought in 1923 with funds provided by the Kensington War Memorial Committee. They wanted to create a suitable tribute to those who had given their lives in the First World War.
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Map
Contact us
View the contact details for parks.