Pupils inspire artwork at new £30m Lee Valley Ice Centre

The new £30m Lee Valley Ice Centre in Lea Bridge Road which is due to open in October 2022 is being built and funded by Lee Valley Regional Park Authority- responsible for Lee Valley Regional Park.

It is being constructed on the site of the old venue in and will be one of only three Olympic-sized twin rinks in the UK and the only venue of its kind in the southeast.

East London artist Alice Druitt worked with two schools, Sybourn Primary and St Joseph’s Catholic Junior, to design the hoarding for the site.

Artist Alice Druitt with Sarah, 10 from St Joseph’s Catholic Junior School who is pointing at her trees which contributed to the final hoarding artwork.

She encouraged year five pupils to draw what they hoped the new centre might be, bought their drawings to life to celebrate the future of the centre, and helped unveil the engaging artwork.

Once the centre is complete, the Authority will fund a £250,000 Community Engagement Programme that supports access to the venue for local community groups and schools.

Sarah, a pupil at St Joseph’s Catholic Junior, said: “The artwork at the Lee Valley Ice Centre makes me really happy. I can’t wait to show my Mum and Dad!”

Harriet Bennett, Assistant Head at Sybourn Primary School, said: “We see our school community as extending beyond the school building, so we were delighted to be asked to be involved in such a positive project in our local area."

Tomas and Julia, both 10 from St Joseph’s Catholic Junior School with artist, Alice Druitt handing over the time capsule to Keith Wilson, Buckingham Group Contracting Ltd (site contractors).

The new Lee Valley Ice Centre will include a café, gym, exercise studios and community spaces which will be open to everyone.

Shaun Dawson, Chief Executive of Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, said: “We’re delighted that the children who contributed to the hoardings around the site have had a chance to see the finished artwork, create a time capsule for future generations and were able to see wildlife on Leyton Marsh. This new centre will be a major new community hub and we look forward to welcoming the children back when we open.”

Jade Le, teacher at St Joseph’s Catholic Junior said: “The community project really captured our children’s interest. Our children loved getting involved, imagining what the new ice centre might be. They also loved learning about the local wildlife and helping with the time capsule preparations. Thank you for letting us be a part of something very special at the end of a very different school year!”