Parents in Haringey will need to find new places to play for the next few weeks after four of the borough’s playgrounds closed as part of a Haringey playgrounds upgrade. The works promise inclusive swings, sensory features and safer surfacing in play areas that, the council says, need to work better for children of all abilities.
Play areas at Downhills Park, Markfield Park and Lordship Recreation Ground shut earlier this month. Bruce Castle Park is due to follow from the week starting Monday 21 September, meaning all four sites will be out of action through much of the autumn.
If the timetable holds, the first three playgrounds should reopen from late October at the very earliest, while Bruce Castle Park is expected to remain closed until the middle of November.
Haringey playground closures: key facts
- Sites affected: Downhills Park, Markfield Park, Lordship Recreation Ground and Bruce Castle Park
- When they closed: the first three shut in early September 2026; Bruce Castle Park follows from the week commencing 21 September 2026
- When they reopen: late October at the earliest for Downhills, Lordship and Markfield; mid-November for Bruce Castle Park
- What is being built: inclusive swings and roundabouts, sensory play features, climbing and multi-use play areas, a cableway, a trampoline, a lookout tower and upgraded safety surfacing
- Where to go instead: Chestnuts Park for Downhills and Lordship visitors; Down Lane Park and Paignton Park for Bruce Castle and Markfield regulars
What each playground is getting
Each site is getting its own tailored makeover. At Bruce Castle Park the plans include a dedicated toddler and nature play area, a lookout tower and new pathways. Downhills Park will gain a large climbing and multi-use play area alongside sensory equipment and nature-themed spaces. Lordship Recreation Ground is in line for a cableway, a trampoline and an inclusive roundabout, while Markfield Park’s revamp concentrates on sensory and inclusive features, repairs to well-loved play items and improved surfacing.
The scheme forms part of Haringey Council‘s wider improvement programme for children’s play, drawn up after what the authority describes as extensive engagement with residents and local Friends groups.
What the accessibility upgrades mean for families
The focus on inclusive design is the most significant part of the project. Conventional playgrounds can quietly shut out children with disabilities: a standard swing or roundabout may be unusable from a wheelchair, while loud, busy layouts can overwhelm children with sensory processing needs.
Purpose-built inclusive equipment changes that picture. Wheelchair-accessible roundabouts, ground-level sensory panels and calmer nature-themed zones allow disabled and non-disabled children to play side by side rather than apart. For parents of disabled children, that can be the difference between a relaxed family afternoon and staying at home — and for every child, playing together builds understanding that lasts well beyond the park gates.
The emphasis on early play is no accident. A Dagenham primary school recently won UNICEF UK’s top Gold award for children’s rights, a reminder of how seriously London takes giving children the best possible start.
Residents had a direct say on the designs
Rather than imposing a standard template, the council used a participatory budgeting approach, giving local people what it calls a “real and tangible say” over how money is spent on their parks.
Erin Wolson, Haringey Council’s cabinet member for culture and leisure, said: “I’m delighted that we’re carrying through with these improvement works to children’s playgrounds. Having playgrounds that are accessible, inclusive and safe to exercise, play and socialise in is fundamentally important to the development of young children.”
She added: “By adopting a participatory budget approach with this project, Haringey residents have had a real and tangible say on what improvements they want in their local parks and I cannot wait for the upgraded playgrounds to re-open.”
Where to play in the meantime
While the works continue, families are being directed to other play areas nearby. Visitors who normally use Downhills Park or Lordship Recreation Ground are advised to try Chestnuts Park, while those who frequent Bruce Castle Park or Markfield Park can head to Down Lane Park or Paignton Park. Anyone planning days out further afield may enjoy our guide to beautiful London parks for a perfect day out.
With the autumn half-term approaching, there are plenty of other family-friendly options to fill the gap — from the new adventure trail honouring the real bear behind Winnie-the-Pooh at London Zoo to Halloween trains and steam workshops at a Kent heritage railway.
A council spokesperson acknowledged the temporary closures would cause some disruption, adding: “We understand these temporary closures may cause disruption and thank residents for their patience while the improvements are carried out.”
