Preliminary design proposal

This was the competition design which led to the appointment of Latz + Partner to undertake the masterplanning. It was put forward as the basis for initial consultation.

Public workshops

28 May & 7 June 2008

Key features

· Improved accessibility: open entrances at Boxworth Grove, Sheen Grove and Gainford Street

· Improved connectivity: Circular Promenade and an east-west Long Promenade

· Improved playground south of the Long Promenade

·  Urban square: including fountain, a café and a new park building with a combination of uses

· ‘Activity corner’ at the southern end of the park: play area, One O’ Clock Club, Adventure Playground and sports facilities

· Open green space at the heart of the Park: to allow different uses of space at different times of the day and year – including a full size grass football pitch

· Play opportunities and benches at the north end of the Park

· Living walls, natural gardens and retention ponds at the Hemingford Road edge

· Encourage a safe 24-hour park through a design that removes hidden corners in the Park, improves accessibility and visibility from boundaries, effective lighting, introduces elements to deter antisocial behaviour and promotes informal social control by an active community life in the Park.

Click image to
see the
preliminary masterplan

Consultation feedback – key points

· Play facilities for children of all ages, especially teenagers are needed

· Mature trees in the north west corner of the Park should be preserved

· Proposed dog walking area should be bigger

· Anti-social behaviour, especially in secluded areas behind the One O’Clock Club and near the Lark in the Park, is a problem

· Concerns about the viability of a 24-hour Park. Consider inclusion of different elements to ensure security, such as CCTV system and barriers

· Ensure mopeds cannot access the Park

· Proposed benches and removal of existing planted buffer between paths and the back gardens in Richmond Avenue could result in anti-social behaviour

· Ensure accessibility whilst deterring people from using the Park for anti-social activities

Refined masterplan 1

Friends of Barnard Park Families Day

21 June 2008

Key features of the updated plans

Following feedback on the preliminary proposals, work began to address the concerns expressed.  ‘Work in progress’ was presented in the following areas:

· To retain mature trees in the north west corner of the Park

· To increase distance and preserve planted buffer between paths and back gardens in Richmond Avenue

· To explore different options and elements for the Park’s play facilities

· To explore different layouts and elements to increase the dog-walking area in the Lower Park

Consultation feedback – key issues

· It would be good to include a youth club and community hall in the new building

· Concerns about the management of a grass football pitch all year round and likely domination of the space by football rather than working as a multi-use open space

· A five-a-side astroturf pitch would better suited to the needs of local people (particularly young users)

· Dog bins, drinking fountains and training elements should be included in the Lower Park area

· Good design – open layout and visibility - can contribute to the Park’s security

Refined masterplan 2

Key features of updated plans

As before, the designers considered the comments received and further revised the proposals.  The work this time reflected:

· Amended layout to preserve 6 large mature trees at the northwest residential end of the Park

· Amended layout to preserve planted buffer between back gardens and the Park

· Removed proposed fruit orchard to increase the size of the dog walking area while retaining the open terrace and communal and school gardens

· Preservation of the multifunctional heart of the Park

· Play facilities for different groups, including a sunken five-a-side football pitch next to the existing hard surface pitch in the adventure playground, a fenced playground and informal play equipment

· Proposals for a multi-functional park building including park rangers office, café, community space and youth club

· Elements to ensure the viability of a 24-hour Park are being discussed with local police and Council departments along with the development of a management plan to address these issues

Consultation feedback – key points

· More options for children and teenagers were welcomed

· Café and multi-functional building were considered a positive addition to the Park

· Ensure funding is available to complete Barnard Park improvement

Please send us any comments by Monday 20th October 2008 to give the team time to consider them before the exhibition.

Final masterplan

Proposals for entrances/edges

• Designing out secluded areas that invite anti-social behaviour by increasing openness, access and visibility; relocating park facilities and providing a Park Patrol office

• Adding new, lockable gates at Boxworth Grove, Sheen Grove and Gainford Street, to the north

• Including seating opportunities throughout the park

• Retaining the CCTV if still necessary

• Shifting the path to retain mature trees and reduce pressure on residential gardens to the north and west

Proposals for sports facilities

• Designing a large grass sports area free for all uses and for all ages

• Adding two artificially surfaced ball games areas, with one fully-featured five-a-side artificial grass pitch managed by the Adventure Playground and another hard surfaced area for more informal use

• Adding larger informal play areas (indicated by star)

• Increasing the size of the south west playground

Proposals for dog provision

• Increasing the size of the dog area

• Including more dog bins, drinking fountains and training equipment

• Increasing seating opportunities for dog owners

Proposals for community facilities

• Designing a new multi functional building for use by the Adventure Playground and the One O'Clock Club, with additional provision for older young people, a new café and park keeper's office.