Hackney Daubeney Fields Nominated for London Sport Award, North London 2026

Key Points

• Hackney Council’s Daubeney Fields project has been nominated for the Active Environment Award at the London Sport Awards.
• The project upgrades playgrounds, outdoor gyms, and paths, benefiting over 300 predominantly low-income residents in Kingsmead and Clapton Park estates.
• Alex Brooke, 34, Project Manager in the Sport England Place team at Hackney Council, led the initiative to transform the space from a mere thoroughfare into a community hub.
• Key improvements include accessible pathways, an updated adventure playground, a skate park, and a new ball games court, including basketball facilities.
• The upgrades aim to foster interaction between previously separate communities on the Kingsmead and Clapton Park estates.
• Sessions with music and fun activities encourage organic meetings among residents.
• Brooke highlights the value of such spaces for vulnerable people with limited access to sports facilities or time for exercise.
• The adventure playground features old-school wooden equipment resembling a junkyard, appealing to children.
• The basketball court has successfully engaged older children.

Hackney (North London News) April 25, 2026 –

Why Has Hackney Council’s Daubeney Fields Been Nominated for a London Sport Award?

Hackney, North London, Hackney Council has been nominated for the Active Environment Award in recognition of its Daubeney Fields project, which has upgraded playgrounds, outdoor gyms, and paths for over 300 predominantly low-income residents. The initiative targets the Kingsmead and Clapton Park estates, transforming an underutilised green space into a vibrant area that promotes exercise and community cohesion. Alex Brooke, 34, Project Manager in the Sport England Place team at Hackney Council, explained the project’s origins and impact.

As reported in coverage of the nomination, Brooke described the initial state of Daubeney Fields:

“One of the reasons why Daubeney Fields was developed was that when I first went there, it felt more like a classic green, somewhere that you would just walk through. It didn’t feel like a space that you would stop at. It’s like you were just on the way to somewhere else and you just cut through that green.”

She noted that the space sat between two large estates whose communities did not mix, prompting a need for a unifying venue.

How Did the Daubeney Fields Project Unite Divided Communities?

Brooke detailed the specific upgrades implemented to enhance accessibility and appeal.

“Making the park more accessible meant putting nice pathways in, updating the adventure playground and developing the skate park,”

She said. These changes have turned the area into a destination where residents gather. By organising sessions and advertising to both estates, the council has facilitated connections:

“It has become a place where people can meet, and by putting on sessions as well and advertising to both areas, the space has brought people together.”

Activities such as fun events or music listening provide low-barrier entry points.

“We’re getting people to come and do something fun or listen to music. Something simple like that is not as intimidating or daunting, and it’s helping people to meet organically,”

Brooke stated. This approach has unlocked exercise opportunities while bridging neighbourhood divides in Hackney.

What Impact Has the Adventure Playground Had on Local Children?

The adventure playground stands out as a key feature, featuring old-school wooden equipment. Brooke, who grew up in Ealing, reflected on its personal resonance:

“I used to love adventure playgrounds when I was little, and the adventure playground that’s in Daubeney Fields is old-school, with all the wooden equipment. It feels like a junkyard.”

She identified it as one of the additions she would have most enjoyed as a child.

The project also introduced a ball games court, expanding its reach to older youth.

“We’ve also installed a ball games court; I would have loved to go there. One of the good things about us having put the basketball court in is that we’ve managed to reach older children now,”

Brooke explained. These elements ensure the space caters to various age groups in the low-income estates.

Why Are Active Spaces Crucial for Vulnerable Residents in Hackney?

Brooke emphasised the broader significance for those facing barriers to physical activity. She understood the role of exercise spaces from her own childhood and sees Daubeney Fields filling a gap for residents without easy access to sports facilities or time constraints. The nomination underscores how such developments create inclusive environments in North London, particularly for predominantly low-income communities.

The London Sport Award recognition highlights Daubeney Fields’ role in promoting health and social ties. Upgrades like pathways, playgrounds, skate parks, outdoor gyms, and basketball courts have made it a multifaceted hub. All details stem from Brooke’s statements on the project’s design and outcomes.

Background of the Daubeney Fields Development

Daubeney Fields lies between the Kingsmead and Clapton Park estates in Hackney, a north London borough known for its diverse, densely populated areas. The project evolved from community needs to address isolation between estates and underuse of the green space. Hackney Council, in partnership with Sport England, focused on practical enhancements: resurfaced paths for better navigation, refurbishment of the existing adventure playground with durable wooden structures, addition of a skate park for youth engagement, installation of outdoor gym equipment, and a new multi-use ball games court featuring basketball.

These works aimed to shift the site’s function from a transit path to a stay-and-engage destination. Programming includes advertised sessions blending activity with casual events like music, targeting organic interactions. The initiative serves over 300 residents, prioritising low-income households with limited alternatives. Though specific timelines for completion are not detailed in the nomination coverage, the upgrades have positioned the space as a model for active environments. This background reflects Hackney Council’s efforts to leverage public green spaces for health equity in urban settings.

Prediction: How This Development Can Affect Local Residents

This nomination and the underlying Daubeney Fields upgrades can increase usage of the space by Kingsmead and Clapton Park residents, as enhanced facilities like pathways and courts make it more approachable for exercise. Low-income families, numbering over 300 affected, may gain easier access to free outdoor activities, potentially improving physical health outcomes where indoor options are scarce. Older children reached by the basketball court could see sustained engagement in sports, while vulnerable groups with time or transport barriers benefit from on-site gyms and playgrounds.

Community cohesion may be strengthened through continued sessions fostering estate interactions, reducing prior separation. Award recognition could attract further funding or replication in Hackney, sustaining maintenance and events. Residents in these estates stand to experience a more connected neighbourhood environment with reliable active spaces.