South London’s Crystal Palace Park has been handed nearly £5million to preserve its future - and its dinosaurs - for generations.
The funding from the National Lottery aims to stop the deterioration of the park - known for its distinctive set of dinosaur sculptures dating from the 1850s - from exposure to outdoor elements.
The Grade II*-listed park has been on the Heritage at Risk Register since 2009.
The £4,696,649 sum will go towards creating a new information centre and destination playground with the aim of reaching 38,000 people, as well as improving accessibility.
The Geological Court - the location of the dinosaur sculptures – will also be restored, alongside the implementation of a programme of activities to reveal the hidden histories of the park.
Announcing the funding, the National Lottery said it hoped that the redevelopment could increase park visitor numbers by 35 per cent up to 1,256,000 over the coming years.
Also announced as 15 projects given financial backing was £4,478,310 in funding for the transformation of the arrival port for HMT Empire Windrush, the ship which brought over 800 of the Windrush generation to Britain in 1948.
The funding will revitalise Tilbury Riverside Station with the aim of boosting the local economy and reestablishing the town as a cultural destination.
Funding is allocated for regeneration of the station building, creating eight studio lets for local artists, and a new café.
The project will also facilitate training and learning opportunities within the community.
Eilish McGuinness, Chief Executive of The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “These wonderful projects demonstrate the astonishing breadth of heritage that people value and want to pass onto future generations, from a Victorian workhouse to the famous Crystal Palace Park dinosaurs, and from one of the UK’s historic ports to our precious riverside habitats.
“Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players over the last 30 years, we have worked with those who care for heritage and helped transform the UK’s heritage landscape, contributing to communities and the economy.
“Our funding benefits all parts of the heritage ecosystem, including visitors, volunteers and the communities which surround it, and I cannot wait to see what the future brings as we work to deliver our vision for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future.”
