Potters Fields Park on the South Bank of the Thames in London reopened yesterday with a three-day festival.

The urban park has been completely redeveloped during a 12-month redesign costing £2.7m.

It includes a new lawn featuring a 20m seat inlayed with English Delftware patterns; a sunken lawned area called The Bowl, which is sheltered by trees and equipped with a new kiosk and additional public conveniences; a café with outdoor seating and cast iron decorative entrance screens.

The work on the park was part of the Mayor of London’s 100 Public Spaces programme in a partnership with Southwark Council, Pool of London Partnership and More London.

Mayor Ken Livingstone said: “Potters Fields has been transformed and the improvements have created a better public space for the local community, people working in the area and visitors.”

The festival features a maze, street theatre, live performances, music and a new installation created by young people from local schools called the Southwark Dinner Party.

Landscape architects Gross Max – which also designed The Bullring in Birmingham and Lyric Square in London – created the new look with funding from Southwark Council (£1.5m) and the London Development Agency (£1.2m)

Future 100 Public Space schemes include Wembley Stadium Station Square, to open shortly, and Barking Town Square, with phase one due for completion.