The new, modern adventure playground, co-funded by Hackney Council, the Heritage Lottery Fund and the BIG Lottery Fund, will replace the existing play area, located next to Clissold House and will include a sports zone to appeal to older children as well as natural play areas for young children.

The sports zone, will include a wheels park for skate boarders, roller bladers and BMXers of all levels and abilities, as well as a multi-use games area complete with goals and line markings for five-a-side football and basketball; and a built-in table tennis table.

The adventure playground makes use of natural resources to create a 6000 square metre play area of swaying wooden bridges, hollow logs, stone climbing boulders and tractor tyre swings as well as a swooping sand valley, shaped like a child’s vision of a desert island and a tall climbing web with swings, springy-things and roundabouts for smaller children.

The varied landscape also includes grass mounds, sustainably constructed using soil and silts sourced from the recent excavation of the Clissold lakes.

The park will also boast new animal enclosures, including a deer enclosure with a pathway that allows people to see the deer up close, and a new butterfly dome showcasing exotic species and a new aviary complete with a sustainable green roof.

The transformation of Clissold Park’s children’s play area is part of a major restoration project, which will see the re-development of Clissold House and surrounding estate for the first time in over one hundred years.

A joint-investment of £8.9 million by Hackney Council and the Heritage Lottery Fund will see the 19th century house restored to reflect its original architecture with a new café, better access for people with disabilities, and new function and meeting rooms for community use.

Other works planned include extensive maintenance of the New River and lakes, which run through the grounds, plus a refurbished pavilion and kiosk .

Children and parents will, however, need to be patient, as the adventure playground and wheel park will open their gates in Spring 2011.

The old playground will close in October this year to allow the works to take place.