Castle Hill Platinum Jubilee Park, Ebbsfleet Garden City

Delivering Good Parks Principles Through Landscape, Community and Nature

Castle Hill Platinum Jubilee Park is a landmark public park within Ebbsfleet Garden City that demonstrates how high-quality green infrastructure can create a strong sense of place, support health and wellbeing, enhance biodiversity, and bring communities together. The park was opened in 2022 to commemorate Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee and has since become one of Ebbsfleet's most valued public open spaces.

Located at the edge of Castle Hill overlooking the former quarry lakes and dramatic chalk cliffs, the park provides a unique setting that connects residents directly to the area's distinctive landscape character. Designed to celebrate and reveal these natural assets, the park combines recreation, ecology and placemaking in a single destination.

Good Parks Principles Demonstrated

1. A Strong Sense of Place

The design responds directly to Ebbsfleet's unique landscape setting. Rather than treating the park as a generic area of open space, the design frames views towards the lakes and chalk cliffs, creating a memorable destination rooted in local identity.

A series of terraces, waterfront spaces, bridges and viewing points encourage visitors to engage with the wider landscape while celebrating the site's industrial and geological heritage. The use of corten steel bridges and carefully positioned viewpoints reinforces this connection to place.

Outcome:

  • Distinctive and memorable destination park.

  • Celebrates local heritage, geology and landscape character.

  • Creates a strong identity for Castle Hill and Ebbsfleet Garden City.

2. Promoting Health and Wellbeing

The park provides opportunities for people of all ages to be active, socialise and spend time outdoors.

Facilities include:

  • Walking and cycling routes.

  • Informal recreation lawns.

  • Natural play spaces.

  • Seating and viewing areas.

  • Waterfront access points.

These spaces encourage everyday physical activity while also providing areas for relaxation and mental restoration through contact with nature.

Outcome:

  • Supports active lifestyles.

  • Encourages outdoor recreation.

  • Improves opportunities for relaxation and mental wellbeing.

3. Connecting People with Nature

One of the key aims of the park was to connect people to the surrounding lakes, cliffs and natural landscape. The design creates direct physical and visual connections to these features through pathways, terraces, bridges and open sightlines.

Planting throughout the park has been designed to support wildlife and provide year-round visual interest. The wider lakes and surrounding habitats contribute to Ebbsfleet's growing ecological network and support local biodiversity.

Outcome:

  • Increased access to nature.

  • Enhanced biodiversity value.

  • Greater awareness and appreciation of local habitats

4. Inclusive and Accessible Design

The park has been designed to accommodate a wide range of users including families, children, older residents and visitors.

The large play space offers diverse opportunities for all ages and abilities, while paths and open spaces enable inclusive access throughout much of the park. The design uses natural landform changes and planting rather than excessive fencing, creating a welcoming and attractive environment.

Outcome:

  • Inclusive recreational opportunities.

  • Safe and welcoming public space.

  • Accessible routes and facilities for a broad range of users.

5. Community Activation and Social Value

Platinum Jubilee Park has rapidly become an important community destination within Ebbsfleet Garden City.

The park hosted the inaugural Ebbsfleet Fusion Festival following its opening and continues to provide a venue for community events, celebrations and activities. The park helps bring residents together, supports social interaction and strengthens community cohesion.

The park also forms part of a wider network of parks and open spaces across Ebbsfleet, contributing to the Garden City's vision of creating connected, healthy neighbourhoods.

Outcome:

  • Creates opportunities for community events.

  • Strengthens social connections.

  • Builds community pride and identity.

5. Community Activation and Social Value

Platinum Jubilee Park has rapidly become an important community destination within Ebbsfleet Garden City.

The park hosted the inaugural Ebbsfleet Fusion Festival following its opening and continues to provide a venue for community events, celebrations and activities. The park helps bring residents together, supports social interaction and strengthens community cohesion.

The park also forms part of a wider network of parks and open spaces across Ebbsfleet, contributing to the Garden City's vision of creating connected, healthy neighbourhoods.

Outcome:

  • Creates opportunities for community events.

  • Strengthens social connections.

  • Builds community pride and identity.

Castle Hill Platinum Jubilee Park exemplifies the principles of a successful modern park. By combining landscape-led design, ecological enhancement, community activation and wellbeing benefits, the project demonstrates how public open space can deliver significant environmental, social and economic value.

The park not only provides a beautiful destination for residents and visitors but also helps establish the distinctive identity of Ebbsfleet Garden City as a place where nature, community and placemaking are at the heart of development

Key Points:

  • High-quality landscape design rooted in local character.

  • Creationof a destination park and community hub.

  • Strong integration of natural assets including lakes and chalk cliffs.

  • Enhanced biodiversity and ecological value.

  • Opportunities for recreation, exercise and wellbeing.

  • Successful community events and social activation.

  • Contribution to the wider green infrastructure vision for Ebbsfleet Garden City.