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Post Games
Transformation
Now the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games are over, the Park is closed while work is underway to transform it into London's newest destination. It will open to visitors from July 2013, with the first residents moving into East Village in late summer 2013.
People should be able to start enjoying the Park as soon as possible, so it will open in phases as sections are completed. First up is the North Park. It will open in July 2013 – one year after the start of the Games.
The ‘When’ section of this site explains in detail what needs to be done before the Park can reopen. Changes will impact every part of it in some way, with the work happening in three phases:
1. Clear – Removing temporary Games-time structures
Everything in the Park is currently tailored to the Games – a unique concentration of sporting events and spectators. Not every structure will be kept in place after the Games, and some will need to undergo structural changes to get them ready for the general public –17,500 spectator seats won’t be needed for family swimming lessons.
2. Connect – Linking the Park with local communities
The Park needs to work seamlessly within its surrounding communities; integrated via new footpaths and cycle ways along with new bridges and underpasses.
3. Complete – Building the future facilities of the Park
Putting in place the new features that will make the Park an unmissable world-class events destination.
People should be able to start enjoying the Park as soon as possible, so it will reopen in phases as sections are completed. First up is the southern section of the North Park. It will re-open on the 27th July 2013 – exactly one year after the start of the Games.
After the Games the Park is going to close completely for a while, so transformation work can be carried out as fast as possible. This means locals and visitors will have access to the new Park more quickly.
The Greenway and Viewtube will reopen as a place to watch Park developments taking place.
Some of the Park’s bridges will go, as visitor numbers change.
Removing the Aquatics Centre wings will reduce the seating from 17,500 to 2,500.
The new Waterden Road will give access to Park facilities and the surrounding areas of Hackney, Leyton and Stratford.
The Hub will be a community centre dedicated to nature, in the green landscape of the North Park.
The Park will begin to come to life with the first major opening of a sporting venue – the Copper Box.
The Park’s first housing development will open from summer 2013 in the area that started life as the Athletes' Village.
Lee Valley VeloPark will be transformed for public use, with alterations to the cycle circuits as well as the surrounding amenities.
New state-of-the-art facilities in the North Park.
These routes provide key access to the facilities on the Park, for the local communities.
Before the London 2012 Games, the Lee Valley’s historic waterways were cleaned and refurbished.
The South Plaza will be Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park’s main destination for events, culture and entertainment.
A series of new bridges will stitch the Park back into nearby communities.
When the South Park and Hub reopen, the Park will be ready to host the full range of events it is designed for.