Brook Street Park Improvement Project June 2012 This report has been compiled by local residents to demonstrate the need to invest in the park Background In Spring 2012 Easton and Lawrence Hill Neighbourhood Management (ELHNM) begin discussions with local stakeholders and residents about Brook Street Play Area, Redfield. This was in response to complaints from local residents about the poor state of the play area and its inadequate facilities. The play area has had no significant investment for many years and much of the play equipment has been removed. The surfaces are poor, litter and fly-tipping are common and as a result the play area is not fulfilling its potential as a community asset. Local Councillors have agreed that Brook Street Park is a priority for investment and improvement and ELHNM and local residents are keen to engage in the process. After a series of meetings facilitated by François Jensen of ELHNM, a group of local residents formed a group: B.I.G (Brook street park Improvement Group), with the aim of accessing funds and engaging with the local community, to significantly improve the quality and usability of the play area for all sections of the local community. There have also been initial talks with the City Academy about the development of the redundant area of land adjacent to the park, allowing it to be made available for community use. This proposal was met positively by the City Academy and François (ELHMN) is setting up a follow-up meeting.

Images of the current state of the park showing: broken glass crushed into play area surface; broken and unsafe kerbing, poor quality surfacing/lack of play equipment and overall tired and uninspiring look of the park

Images showing: dog mess within the play area (where no dogs are allowed) and an example of the regular litter/fly-tipping found in the park Consultation B.I.G and ELHNM organised and facilitated an initial community consultation event on 7th June 2012 (half term) to collect evidence, establish support and identify priorities for improvement. This event had 30 attendees (13 adults and 17 children). Numbers were lower than anticipated as there was extremely bad weather (high winds and heavy rain). The aim was to ask local residents: what they currently felt was wrong with park and how they felt the park could be improved for different types of users. Further, more detailed consultation, is anticipated as part of a family fun day which B.I.G and ELHNM are planning for the school summer holidays 2012 (we are currently looking at funding for this through Quartet and Community First). During this session we aim to undertake a Spaceshaper 9-14 workshop with local children and young people to collect more detailed information to establish the key priorities for improvement. However, an additional aim of the fun day is to provide organised activity in the park facilitated by Play Rangers and artists to: encourage more families to use the space (many are currently reluctant as it is of such poor quality and unsafe) and to promote community cohesion between the different groups who do currently use the space.

Local residents taking part in consultation in the park, June 2012 Consultation Feedback Replies in response to: ‘What is currently wrong with the space?’ Lack of planting/flowers Lots of dog mess Nothing to play on People drinking and leaving broken glass/litter Different groups not getting on with each other People walking their dogs in the play area People urinating and defecating in the park Only one bin – too much litter – council have left bin bags rather than permanent bin Poor quality play equipment Ugly, broken fencing Really bad surface – not good to play on and unsafe Large groups of people – can be intimidating Lack of seating Unsafe road to cross to get to park No grass that is safe to play (due to litter and dog mess) No flowers Dangerous dogs being exercised in the park No toilets nearby People using park as cut through because of broken fence

Residents views on what is wrong with the park Replies in response to: ‘How would you like to see the park improved? For babies/toddlers: Safer surfacing Fence around the little children’s play equipment to protect from: dogs/older children playing ball games Small climbing frame and slide Sandpit Swings (like in St George’s Park) Paint fences and swings so they are brighter Water play park Toilets nearby More flowers For children (4-12 years) Better surface Slides Play equipment that challenges children Another playground! Roundabout Paint equipment to make it more cheerful Safe football area to play in Goal nets for football Basketball nets More bins More seats Better swings

get litter cleaned up new flooring access to public toilets nearby more interesting play equipment play rangers bringing games to the park Water play park pond with fish For Teenagers: place to hang out/shelter better surfacing for playing football basketball nets football goals paint the fence and equipment For families/older people: more seating flowers/herb garden sensory garden shared planting area with learning scheme gates locked at night time community vegetable beds Artwork/sculpture (done by local children?) better lighting information board: about Wainbrook/local history/nature wild flower area more bins nearby toilets

Community views – why Brook Street Park needs investment

B.I.G and ELHNM would like to propose the use of Section 106 money towards the improvement of Brook Street Park. We understand there is a potential of £38K of Section 106 money available to be invested in the park, which falls a long way short of what would be required to improve the park. However, it would be our intention to use the Section 106 money as a source of match funding which would enable us to embark on a process of obtaining further funding from grants/funding sources (possibly through Capital Stimulus Fund). Our aims are to achieve significant improvements to the park which: increase usage; promote community cohesion enhance a valuable community asset for the whole neighbourhood

Local residents engaging in initial consultation about improvements to the park Project Contacts: ELHNM – François Jensen: francois@eastonandlawrencehill.org.uk/ Direct line: 0117 377 3640 Mobile: 07810506595 B.I.G (residents) – Amy Harrison: littlegreenlady@hotmail.co.uk /07803709303 or Nikki Buglass: nikkibuglass@hotmail.co.uk