Avondale Park Improvements

We asked for your views on the existing features within Avondale Park with the aim of making improvements throughout the park using the feedback and ideas from the local community. The consultation was split into three phases; Initial Ideas and Feedback, Focus Group Sessions and a formal survey. Idea and comments were condensed into categories which were the basis for the questions asked in the community wide survey – Accessibility, Health and Wellbeing, Education and Sustainability.

Phase 1 (Initial Ideas and Feedback) – 160+ comments

Phase 2 (Focus Groups) – 6 local stakeholder groups

Phase 3 (Survey) – 154 responses

Outdoor Gym

• Support for outdoor gym: The majority (77 per cent) of respondents supported the installation of a new outdoor gym at Avondale Park. A total of 15 per cent of respondents did not support the installation of a new outdoor gym.
• Types of equipment to be included in the outdoor gym: A total of 37 per cent of respondents preferred a combination of calisthenics (body weight) and other fitness equipment. A total of 29 per cent preferred calisthenics equipment only, whilst 16 per cent preferred a variety of fitness equipment.
• Support for installation of fencing around the outdoor gym: A total of 46 per cent of respondents supported the idea of installing fencing around the outdoor gym. Whilst 28 per cent of respondents did not support the installation of fencing around the outdoor gym. A total of 14 per cent of respondent selected don’t know.
• Additional Features included: Suitable safety surfacing, clear instructions on how to use the equipment, and a good variety which takes into account all demographics.

Playgrounds

Junior Playground:

• Satisfaction with current junior playground: A net total of 32 per cent (eight per cent very satisfied, 24 per cent satisfied) of respondents were satisfied with the current junior playground. A net total of 16 per cent (10 per cent dissatisfied, six per cent very dissatisfied) of respondents were dissatisfied with the current junior playground.
• Preferred theme for junior playground proposals: A total of 49 per cent of respondents selected nature/wildlife theme to be included as part of the junior playground. Whilst 23 per cent of respondent selected both the jungle theme and the space theme, and 18 per cent selected underwater/pirate theme for the junior playground.
• Type of material used for the junior playground proposals: A total of 56 per cent of respondents outlined they wanted wood/timber/natural to be used for the junior playground equipment. A total of 12 per cent of respondents selected metallic as the material to be used for the junior playground equipment.
• Types of equipment included in junior playground proposals: A total of 45 per cent of respondents selected multiunit/climbing frames, and 44 per cent of all respondents selected balancing equipment, jumper/trampoline and swings. The least popular options were rocking/springer equipment (27 per cent) and sculpture features (20 per cent).

Senior Play Area:

• Satisfaction with children’s larger play area: A net total of 33 per cent (eight per cent very satisfied, 25 per cent satisfied) of respondents were satisfied with the larger play area. A net total of 23 per cent (18 per cent dissatisfied, five per cent very dissatisfied) of respondents were dissatisfied with the current larger play area.
• Supporting fencing around the children’s larger play area: A total of 34 per cent of respondents supported the idea of installing fencing around the larger play area. Whilst 36 per cent of respondents did not support the installation of fencing around the larger play area.
• Views on surfacing the children’s larger play area: Nearly half (47 per cent) of respondents preferred to keep the current layout of the larger play area. Nearly a quarter (24 per cent) of respondents supported surfacing the whole of the larger play area.
• Type of equipment in the children’s larger play area: Half (50 per cent) of respondents selected swings, 48 per cent selected multi-unit/climbing frames and 46 per cent selected zip-line. The least popular option was dynamic/spinning equipment (38 per cent), although this is still a high proportion of the survey respondents.

Open and Green Spaces:

Accessibility:

• Most participants wanted improvements to both the existing seating areas and introducing new ones (36%).
• Participants wanted more benches and picnic tables, with better accessibility features (especially around the larger playground area).
• Benches/picnic tables which are more suitable for disabled users (benches with backs/armrest, tables disabled friendly, wooden).
• Participants wanted to improve lighting throughout (inc. around the park buildings).
• Requests to make entrances more disabled friendly (lower kerbs at the entrances down Walmer Road).
• Improvements to areas of footpath in the park, along with the drainage.

Green Spaces:

• Most participants supported the idea of introducing a community garden (43%).
• Re-seed grass throughout where needed.
• Popular planting ideas: edible plants, fruit trees, wildflowers, larger range of flowers.
• General maintenance needs to improve.
• Improve wildlife features: bird boxes, bug hotels etc.
• Restore green roof on park buildings.
• Improvements to the woodland wildlife trial, wild meadow areas and garden spaces.

Other:

• Improvements to the service by the kiosk provider
• Better signage throughout the park
• History board
• Restoration of the fountain

The results will be used to help with the scope of the works and the initial master planning, and the Council will be working with the Avondale Park Steering Group and other sub groups to implement the works where possible.