Hammersmith Park is an open space sited on the remains of an original Japanese garden designed for the Japan–British Exhibition in 1910. The area, known as the Great White City was initially developed for the 1908 Summer Olympics and was subsequently used for a series of international exhibitions until World War I.
Little sign of the 1910 Japan–British Exhibition remains today. The exhibition covered 140 acres, lasted for 6 months and was visited by 8 million people. There were two specially created Japanese Gardens, one being the Garden of Peace on the site of the current park. For the 100th anniversary in 2010 several improvements were made to the park, including rebuilding of the stream, creation of the rock garden and the Mount Fuji slide in the playground. In 2018 the Japanese Gate and stone lanterns were added. More information here.
In November 1954 tennis courts and a playground were added. The remainder of the park opened in September 1955.
Today it offers a welcome space to exercise and relax in one of the most densely populated areas of the country. It provides free to use sports facilities, play areas and benefits from the Counters Creek stream and pond.
The Friends of Hammersmith Park was set up by representatives of a number of local resident-led associations that surround the park and members of the Save Hammersmith Park group that successfully campaigned to stop the disposal of half of the park to a private sports company.
The main aims are to protect Hammersmith Park as a place of freedom and recreation and ensure that the views and wishes of people using and living near to the park matter.
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