Olimpic Park After Games 2012

The new olimpic park will be connected to the tidal Thames Estuary to the south and the Hertfordshire countryside to the north. It will be designed to enrich the local ecology, by restoring wetland habitats and planting native species. The canals and waterways of the River Lea will be cleaned and widened, and the natural floodplains of the area will be restored to provide a new wetland habitat for wildlife for birdwatchers and ecologists to enjoy. The natural river system of the valley will be restored, canals dredged and waterways widened.

The world-class sports facilities will be adapted for use by sports clubs and the local community as well as elite athletes. New playing fields sitting alongside these facilities will be adapted for community use. The Olimpic Village, where athletes and officials will stay during the Games, will be converted into homes, many available for key workers such as teachers and nurses.The park will be planted with native species, including oak, ash, willow, birch, hazel, holly, blackthorn and hawthorn, providing a home for wildlife in the middle of the city.

A range of transport improvements serving the Park are already underway, including an extension to the Docklands Light Railway, increased capacity on the Jubilee Line and the upgrade of Stratford Regional Station.
Together with the new homes in the Olimpic Village, there will be further housing built with the Olimpic Park site after the Games, creating a total of over 9,000 new homes. Riverside housing, shops, restaurants and cafes will provide new amenities for the local community. There will also be a wealth of benefits to the wider community, such as cross-city transport improvements in Lndon, more training and job opportunities for the UK and the chance for a vast array of businesses to be involved. The communities surrounding the Park will enjoy access to the open space via a network of canal towpaths, footpaths and cycleways. Economically, the area will be transformed. Thousands of new jobs will be created in the Park alone. Job and training opportunities will be created for local people, and local residents will be engaged in the planning of the Games and the benefits the project will bring afterwards.

The Olimpic Delivery Authority (ODA) has started to develop the first phase of the development of the Olimpic Park and the surrounding area. It is clearing the site, creating a new park, moving the overhead powerlines underground, building new world-class venues, and installing new utilities and transport infrastructure.
The Games will leave a key legacy of national benefits in culture, sport, volunteering, business and tourism.

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