Hackney Council has opened three public consultations on proposed refurbishments to playgrounds at Clissold Park, London Fields (north) and Millfields Park, with residents invited to comment before final designs are set.
The consultations cover draft plans for each site and are open until Friday 6 November 2026. The council says the proposals are intended to make the play areas more accessible and appealing to a wider range of ages, as well as creating spaces that are welcoming to both girls and boys.
What is proposed
The plans include a mix of traditional playground equipment and natural play features. Across the three sites, the council is proposing more swings, slides, seating and trampolines. The designs also include planting, logs and boulders, which the council says are intended to create more playful spaces for adventurous play.
At London Fields, the northern play area could be enlarged. The council says this would help children across a broader age range play together at the site.
The proposals remain at consultation stage, so the details are not final. Residents’ comments are being sought before the council settles the final designs for Clissold Park, London Fields (north) and Millfields Park.
Draft designs for this phase were shaped using feedback gathered earlier in the year, when residents were asked what they liked about the play areas and what they wanted to see improved. The latest consultations are intended to gather views on the emerging proposals for the three locations.
Pop-up events and surveys
Residents can respond through individual surveys for London Fields (north), Clissold Park and Millfields Park. The council is also holding six in-person pop-up events at the playgrounds so people can discuss the plans directly.
The first two events are scheduled for Saturday 3 October. A session at Clissold Park play area is due to run from 9.30am to 12.30pm, followed by a session at Millfields play area from 1.30pm to 4.30pm.
A third event is planned for London Fields play area on Saturday 10 October, from 9.30am to 12.30pm.
Three further pop-ups are listed during the October half-term period. London Fields play area is due to host a session on Wednesday 28 October from 9.30am to 12.30pm. Millfields play area is due to host a session on Friday 30 October from 9.30am to 12.30pm, followed by a Clissold Park play area session on the same day from 1.30pm to 4.30pm.
The consultation deadline for feedback on the proposals is Friday 6 November 2026.
Part of a wider play-area programme
The council describes the three proposed refurbishments as the third phase of its borough-wide play-area programme. It says the programme has upgraded 13 play areas and built two new play areas since 2020.
Cllr Jacob Cable, cabinet member for climate, clean air, energy and transport, is the councillor attributed to the announcement. The council has linked the proposals to its aim of providing appealing, accessible and high-quality spaces where children of different ages can play outdoors.
The council also says the upgrades are intended to support outdoor play for younger children and teenagers. Its stated aims include improving accessibility, broadening the appeal of the play areas across age groups and making the spaces more welcoming.
What has not yet been set out
The current material sets out proposals and a consultation process, rather than final approvals for construction. No budget, contractor or build timetable has been set out in the checked information for the three playground refurbishments.
After the consultation closes, responses are expected to inform the final designs for the playgrounds. Until that process is complete, the proposals at Clissold Park, London Fields (north) and Millfields Park should be treated as draft plans rather than confirmed final schemes.
