The £2m regeneration of Wandle Park is set to begin.

A new skate park, ball court, open-air gym, pavilion and community garden will all be built at the Waddon park under the Parks for People scheme funded by Heritage Lottery and Big Lottery Fund.

Bringing the River Wandle back to the surface from its underground culvert, restoring key original Victorian features, including ornamental planting, a bandstand, a water fountain, historic walls and paths and part of the boating lake is also part of the scheme.

Councillor Sara Bashford, cabinet member for customer services, culture and sport, said: “This is an exciting time for the people of Broad Green and Waddon specifically, and for anybody else who enjoys using Wandle Park.

“Thanks to innovative thinking and bold decision making, the park is to undergo a major transformation, the centrepiece of which will be the Wandle, having been brought back to the surface after too many years underground.

To allow the work to begin the park will close from January 9 The skate park and ball court will be ready for public use in April, with the rest of the park expected to be reopened at the end of 2012.