Legacy Corporation unveils plans for public space on Olympic Park

Plans to create a major public space that will welcome crowds to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park have been submitted by the London Legacy Development Corporation.

The South Plaza, the public space at the heart of the South Park, will be a landscaped public area dedicated to entertainment and activity offering people new experiences every time they visit.

Framed by the Aquatics Centre, the Stadium and the ArcelorMittal Orbit, the 28 acre space has been designed by James Corner Field Operations, the landscape architects responsible for the award winning High Line in New York.

The backbone of the South Plaza will be a 12m wide tree-lined promenade, opening onto a series of outdoor “rooms”, each with a distinctive character. They include an interactive labyrinth fountain, a classic carousel, a space for impromptu performances, a music room and a play space with climbing wall descending to the canal-side. There will also be a park hub adjacent to the ArcelorMittal Orbit housing a cafe, box office and a roof-top pavilion with spectacular views across the Park.

The Legacy Corporation aims to open the South Park in spring 2014, following the phased opening of the North Park from July 27, 2013 – exactly one year after the Olympics Opening Ceremony.