Current Features in The Park
The former site of the fair was levelled and became a site for travelling fairs and exhibitions, and is currently the site of Battersea Evolution, formerly known as the Battersea Park Events Arena.
The park is home to a small children's zoo, a boating lake, a bandstand, and several all-weather outdoor sporting facilities including tennis courts, a running track and football pitches. Four West London Hockey teams currently use the all-weather Astroturf pitches, the most prominent being Wanderers Hockey club.
The park is also the site of the London Peace Pagoda, erected in 1985. A replica of the bronze statue of a dog that was the focal point of the historic vivisection-related Brown Dog affair was also erected here in 1985.
Over the course of 2002-4, the park underwent an £11m refurbishment funded in part by the Heritage Lottery Fund, and was re-opened on 2 June 2004 by Prince Phillip.
In 2011, a sculpture commemorating the 10th anniversary of the September 11 Islamist terror attacks, After 9/11, was unveiled in the park by then Mayor of London, Boris Johnson.
In 2012, Battersea Park will act as host to one of the seven national Foodies Festivals from August 17th - 19th. Masterclasses will be performed by top-chefs, such as Levi Roots and Ed Baines, with burlesque shows, restaurant tents, city beaches and pop-up cinemas also on offer.
Read more about this topic: Battersea Park
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