Hackney Downs

Hackney Downs is a 16-hectare park in the London Borough of Hackney, originally common land preserved as parkland from the 1860s. It sits in the Lower Clapton area, surrounded by streets of social housing rebuilt in the 1930s and 1960s. The park includes a play area, basketball courts, football pitches and a bowling green. It once hosted the annual Hackney Show, which fostered community spirit, and Fireworks Night, both now discontinued. The park received a Green Flag award in July 2008. The neighbourhood known as Hackney Downs lies west of Cricketfield Road and east of the railway line. It is dominated by estates such as the Nightingale Estate, built during the 1930s and 1960s. Hackney Downs School once stood here but has been redeveloped as Mossbourne Community Academy. The area is served by two London Overground stations: Hackney Central and Hackney Downs. The park occupies a central place in Hackney and acts as a green space for local residents. Its open grassland and facilities provide a place for sport and play. The surrounding streets reflect the borough’s social housing history. The railway line and stations link the area to central London.