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Though its site is superb — a west-facing slope overlooking London — Barnard Park is dilapidated and badly in need of improvement. Its facilities are rundown, and its landscaping fails both the take advantage of its position and to integrate the park into the surrounding neighbourhood. In the late 2000s, Islington Council began a multi-year process of design and consultation to create a new vision for the park. The Friends of Barnard Park have been involved throughout. That process culminated in a new masterplan for the park, which was approved by the Council’s West Area Committee in March 2009.

The masterplan was created by Latz+Partner, an globally renowned firm of landscape architects based in Munich, after an international competition. That plan was further refined through an extensive period of community consultation. The new vision for Barnard Park makes full use of the site. It contains both enhanced sports facilities and an enlarged grass area for lounging and picnics. It also makes provision for community and school gardening along the western boundaries of the park.

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The Friends of Barnard Park are now working with the Council to try to raise the money necessary to build this vision.