Community groups have the chance to bid for up to �40,000 to transform diused or tired areas, from streets to playgrounds, into thriving spaces with links to the Olympic Park.

The London Legacy Development Corporation, overseeing the park, is calling on community groups and design practices to come together with ideas to improve spaces around Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

The Emerging East project is offering a range of commissions to help forge connections to the park by improving indoor and outdoor public spaces such as local streets, parks, playgrounds and towpaths, while encouraging design-led community activities and events.

Commissions of up to �9,000 for small projects and �40,000 for a few larger ones are available to transform disused or tired areas into thriving community spaces. Successful proposals will be developed through a series of community workshops.

The Corporation’s interim chief executive, Dennis Hone, said: “We’re excited to see what kind of design proposals come forward because local communities know what their area needs better than anyone else.

“Projects like Emerging East are a fantastic way to involve local people in their own future, and spread the benefits of the Games into our surrounding communities.”

The Legacy Corporation ran a similar scheme on a smaller scale last year.

Mabley Meadow Users Group in Hackney was one of the projects to benefit.

They applied for small grant to transform a rundown part of their neighbourhood into a public space and a wildlife haven. They used the grant to sow wildflower seeds, planted thousands of flower bulbs, made beetle, bird and insect habitats, commissioned hand-carved benches, and ran a series of free workshops.

Since then a free gardening club has been set up for local children, led by an expert gardener.

Visit www.londonlegacy.co.uk/about-us/work-with-us/ for more information on how to apply. The deadline for submissions is Noon, November 16, 2012.