London's Olympic Park is set to become a new 'great park' to help transform east London after the 2012 Games, under new proposals announced by the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA).

Around 250 acres (101.2 hectares) of parkland currently being developed to host the London Games will become one of the largest urban parks created in the UK for more than a century. More than 4,000 trees will be planted under the 'great park' plans, which will also include hanging gardens situated 30ft (9.1m) above the ground on the footbridge from Stratford City into the park's main pedestrian entrance.

A tree-lined park road to the north of the Olympic Park, which has been modelled on The Mall and Birdcage Walk in central London, a regional sports club, a large oval lawn with an amphitheatre, a cycle circuit around the Velodrome and new wildlife and wetland habitats are also earmarked for the site. ODA chief executive David Higgins said: "We are cleaning up industrial land and creating the green backdrop for the London 2012 Games that in legacy mode will become the UK's largest new urban park in over a century.

"Inspired by the original Victorian parks, the meadows, gardens, woods and river walks in this new 'great park' will create a fantastic public space for people and wildlife right at the heart of the transformation of east London." The Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) is now leading plans for the Games' legacy. OPLC chief executive Andrew Altman added: "We will create one of the great London parks, sitting alongside places like Kensington Park, Victoria Park and St James' Park.

"To do that we need both a high quality parkland and an excellent programme of events for local people and visitors. The ODA's plans provide us with an excellent start and we will be working with the local community and park operators over the next two years to bring the park to life." Image: ODA