London's Greenwich Park will be closed to the public for a four-week period in order to host events at the 2012 Olympics under plans submitted to Greenwich Council by the Games' organisers.

With the exception of the children's playground and parts of the Flower Garden, the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) expects the site to be closed between 6 July and 3 August 2012. A temporary 23,000-seat arena with supporting facilities will be erected under plans for Greenwich Park, which is earmarked to host Olympic and Paralympic equestrian events and the Olympic modern pentathlon competition.

The planning application also sets out the proposed creation of a 6km cross country course and a 1km modern pentathlon running course to the south east of the arena, as well as spectator queuing, screening and administration facilities. Secondary stabling, a training ground, storage, offices and a spectator queuing area in Blackheath Circus Field are also included in the proposals, while LOCOG intends to build 2.5m (8.2ft)-high perimeter fencing in a bid to provide tight security.

Media, administrative and hospitality facilities will be housed in Devonport House, the Maritime Galleries and Queen's House to the north of the park, and LOCOG has pledged to fully restore the park once the temporary structures are removed. LOCOG chair Sebastian Coe said: "We take our responsibilities seriously - we know the people of Greenwich love their beautiful park, and we have spent considerable time developing our plans to make sure we protect it.

"Our planning application shows the lengths we are going to in order to make sure we return the park to The Royal Parks and the local community in the condition in which we will gratefully receive it." Mark Camley, chief executive of The Royal Parks - the organisation responsible for Greenwich Park, added: "We are working with LOCOG to ensure any impact to the Park and Park users is minimised and are assured that LOCOG has publicly committed to returning the Park to its pre-Games condition."