Wimbledon Walkway Will Leave Games Legacy

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Plans unveiled for 2012 tennis route

The vision for an 'Olympic Walkway' in Wimbledon, which will leave a lasting legacy of the 2012 event, is taking shape with the completion of a prospectus outlining the plans.

"The Wimbledon Way" will be a marked walkway from Wimbledon station to the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC), where the 2012 Tennis events will take place.

Not only will the route - right out of the station, up
Wimbledon Hill Road, to the Village, right into Church
Road and down to The AELTC - serve as the recommended route for Olympic spectators, but organisers hope it will serve as a permanent legacy.

The project has been developed by the Wimbledon Going for Gold campaign, a partnership between Merton Chamber of Commerce, local businesses and Merton Borough Council.

Key features of The Wimbledon Way will be:

- A route leading the user from attraction to attraction
- A "Victory Walk" celebrating tennis events and personalities
- Interesting thematic information to bring the walk alive
- Digital information accessed through smart phones
- Installation of new public art
- Seasonal and event-related content and experiences.

The route will be divided into five 'zones', talking the walker to the AELTC through the following themes - Vibrant Town; Creative Boulevard; Village Life; Wimbledon History; Green Wimbledon. A Tennis theme will under-pin all the zones.

New route-marking will include pavement signs and milestone markers as well as new seats. There will also be 'interpretation boards' giving information about The Wimbledon Way, tennis, the Olympics and the five themes.

It is anticipated around 7,000-9,000 people will use the route each day during the Tennis event, from Saturday July 28 – Sunday August 5.

If the plan gets the necessary financial backing, work on The Wimbledon Way will be developed during 2011, and be finished in 2012 in time for the Queen's Jubilee, The AELTC Championships and the Olympics.

The scheme could cost from £55,050 in the first year, rising to £69,886 for a better start to the project. Organisers must now speak to a potential funders to secure the backing.

What do you think about the plans? Will the Olympics be good for Wimbledon? Why not comment on our forum?

February 21, 2011