Open space and waterways

The Park benefits from a truly extraordinary location. It forms the southern part of the 26-mile green corridor of the Lee Valley Regional Park, with its award-winning mix of countryside activities, sports facilities and nature reserves.

At the same time, the Olympic Park is minutes away from the centre of two of the world’s major commercial hubs – Canary Wharf and the City of London.

The Park enjoys an almost unique ability to weave nature into the city. During the 2012 Games, visitors will get the first taste of this remarkable new landscape, shaped by a distinctive network of revitalised waterways, landscaped parklands and vibrant, urban open spaces. The restored canals and rivers will help bring the landscape back to life, whilst also creating inspiring places to work and play – right on the water.

The waterways will link the River Thames, and the historic docklands of East London to the heart of the new Park, its family-focused green spaces, events and activities. The northern river-valley parkland, roughly the size of St James’ Park, will mature in the years after the Games as a green lung for the benefit of Londoners and visitors.

“The Olympic Park offers a truly unique opportunity. To have all of these assets combined in one place, within a few miles of central London, but with the space; and then the political will, to deliver something quite extraordinary, is not something which comes along very often.”

Roger Madelin, Joint Chief Executive, Argent