Vote to win Byron Recreation Ground £400,000

A Wealdstone park could be in line for a major makeover, but only if it proves its popularity with your help.

Byron Recreation Ground in Christchurch Avenue, Wealdstone, is one of 47 of the capital's green spaces vying for one of 10 £400,000 grants to be dished out by the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson.

A two-month public vote is being held to decide the winners, with the two parks with the most nominations from each of five sub-regions earning the cash. In addition, experts will help Mr Johnson pick one entry to receive the top prize, a £2million regeneration package.

Mr Johnson said: "I urge residents of Harrow to use their vote so the most deserving parks in the capital benefit from 10 hefty prizes.

"This investment will make the capital's open spaces cleaner, safer, greener and more enjoyable places for Londoners to use.

"Parks provide a free place for families to enjoy time out and often simple improvements such as better play areas and improved lighting can make a real difference in making parks much more attractive and safer for people to use."

You can vote for Byron Recreation Ground by:
logging on to www.london.gov
.uk/parksvote
texting 'parks' and your postcode to 62967 (texts will cost 10p plus your standard network rate)
requesting a postal vote by calling City Hall's Public Liaison Unit on 020 7983 4100.

Voting closes on January 30 and the winners will be announced by Mr Johnson the following month, with the prizes distributed during the next four years.

Harrow Councillor Susan Hall (Conservative), portfolio holder for environment and community services, said: "As the recession bites Harrow's parks remain a vital part of our community, giving individuals and families a place to relax and have fun.

"I would like to urge the people of Harrow to vote for Bryon Park today. Get your friends, family, neighbours to join in as this cash injection will make a massive difference to the park's facilities."

Isabel Dedring, the Mayor's director of environment, explained: "The money's not just about ongoing maintenance costs, which boroughs cover at the moment, it's about capital investment: new playgrounds, new planting, new flowerbeds."

Mr Johnson said the £6m prize fund had been created by pulling money out of previous mayor Ken Livingstone's publicity budget.