The biggest new park since the 2012 Olympics has officially opened in London, as part of the creation of a new village.
Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan formally opened Springfield Park in Tooting, which is part of the new Springfield Village that South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust has created around Springfield University Hospital.
The 32-acre park has a pavilion café, amphitheatre, fitness trail, play areas, ponds and 700 new trees. It has been opening in phases since 2023, with the full park now available to the public.
Sir Sadiq was joined by Tooting MP Dr Rosena Allin-Khan, Wandsworth Council Leader Simon Hogg and residents at the opening of the new park on Wednesday. The Mayor said: “I am delighted to join the local community and pupils from my old primary school to open this incredible new park, which is the largest to be created in London since the 2012 Olympics.
“Springfield Park is a great new facility and a key part of the transformation at Springfield Hospital that is providing much-needed affordable homes and green spaces for local people.
“Access to nature and secure, affordable housing are vital foundations for good physical and mental health, helping Londoners to live well and enabling our communities to thrive. It is a wonderful example of partners working together as we continue to build a fairer, greener and healthier London for everyone.”
The park sits alongside two new mental health facilities at Springfield Village, which were opened in 2022 and 2023 as part of the £150 million redevelopment of Springfield Hospital. A total of 1,288 homes are being built on the grounds, including 33% affordable housing, with construction expected until 2028. The new public square is also home to shops, cafés, a gym and care home.
The trust’s masterplan to replace derelict hospital buildings on the 92-acre site with world-class mental health facilities was approved in 2012. The village has been designed to break down barriers and reduce stigma around mental illness by integrating the facilities with the new homes, shops and park.
Vanessa Ford, Chief Executive of the trust, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) the state-of-the-art facilities were “already making a real difference” as the hospital had seen a 36% reduction in patient safety incidents since they opened, showing patients were receiving “safer, more effective healthcare”.
She said: “What we’ve done is we’ve created new homes where the residents have had mental health first aid training, alongside a park where people can come and be. We’ve got hope benches where people can sit and have meaningful conversations, and it’s the natural knocking in of each other that you have that means that conversations and culture and stigma changes.”
In a statement, Ms Ford added: “By opening up our hospital to the community in this way, we take another huge step in breaking down barriers, supporting access, and breaking mental health stigma. This is about being open and unashamed in how we think about mental ill health, and it is so important that our environments, and the world around us, reflect these values.”
The trust launched the Springfield Park Community Fund during the event, which will provide a total of £75,000 over the next three years for local community groups to bring projects to the park.
Councillor Hogg described the opening of the park as “a historic moment for Wandsworth and for the people of Tooting”. He said: “This beautiful new green space, the largest to open in London since the 2012 Olympics, will make a lasting difference to the lives of local people. It offers space to breathe, play, exercise, and connect with nature, right in the heart of our community.
“Wandsworth is proud to be one of London’s greenest boroughs, and Springfield Park is a fantastic addition to our extensive network of parks, commons and open spaces. We’re investing in even more high-quality play areas and green spaces this year as part of our year of play, because we know how vital they are for children, families, and everyone’s wellbeing.”
