OLYMPICS: 2012 park designers win award (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

OLYMPICS: 2012 park designers win award

12:04pm Monday 8th February 2010 in

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OLYMPIC bosses have received an award for the accessibility of of the 2012 park.

The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) won the Royal Town Planning Institute award for equality and diversity at a ceremony last week.

The judges said: "The ODA has turned traditional design principles on their heads.

"By taking a holistic view of people’s needs, it is using the power of the Games to change the way that people think about designing places.

"There is a strong indication that these principles will influence future sports facilities design.”

The ODA has attempted to make the park accessible and inclusivce by including wide pathways with smooth surfaces, gentle gradients, clean signs and a large number of wheelchair facilities.

Jerome Frost, ODA head of design, said: “We want to ensure that people of all cultures, faiths and ages and disabled people find the Olympic Park welcoming and easy to use in 2012.

“After the Games, the most accessible sporting venues in London and an inclusive public park will be left for the local community. Aside from the physical legacy, we hope we can set a precedent for the industry and future developments will meet the same high inclusivity standards.”

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