Sunbeam Gardens Improvements

We asked for your views on a wide range of improvements to Sunbeam Gardens. The potential improvements included:

• Installation of a drinking water fountain
• New seating
• Art sculpture and mural
• Repainting existing railings
• New planting
• Outdoor gym equipment

Survey responses 25

General:

How often people visit the park:  A total of 10 respondents said they visit Sunbeam Gardens everyday, 4 respondents visited two to three times per week, 7 respondents visited once a week and 4 respondents less frequently.

Satisfaction levels with the park: 10 respondents were either very satisfied or satisfied, 9 respondents were neither satisfied or dissatisfied, 5 respondents were either dissatisfied or very dissatisfied and 1 respondent did not answer.

Improvement proposals: Respondents were asked for the levels of support for each of the proposal and then asked to rank them in order of preference. The top two selected items in order of preference in joint 1^st place were the installation of a new drinking water fountain and planting improvements both with a mean score of 1.28, 2^nd  place was additional items of outdoor gym equipment with a mean score of 0.96, 3^rd place new benches with arm rests with a mean score of 0.64, 4^th place repainting external railings with a mean score of 0.60, 5^th sculpture with a mean score of 0.56 and 6^th ground mural with a mean score of 0.08.

Top two preferred pieces of outdoor gym equipment: The top two favourite pieces of equipment selected were the resistance stepper and resistance shoulder press.

Preferred Planting theme: Eleven respondents said that they would like a mixed planting theme including plants beneficial to wildlife and pollinators, shrubs and grasses, seasonal bulbs, and sensory planting.  9 respondents just wanted plants beneficial to wildlife and pollinators.

Installation of picnic tables of grass area outside play area:  17 respondents were in favour of this, 7 respondents did not support this and 1 respondent did not answer.

Improvements

• The joint 1^st ranked items of new and improved planting and installation of a drinking water fountain will be implemented. The new planting will include new climbing planting to the boundary of the play area and seasonal bulbs, some infill planting around the boundary of the rest of the site including some new trees and fruiting plants. It will follow the preferred mixed planting theme incorporating plants beneficial to wildlife and pollinators, ornamental shrubs and grasses, seasonal bulbs, and sensory planting. 
• The two new pieces of outdoor gym equipment will also be installed to include the two favourite pieces the resistance stepper and resistance shoulder press, we will also look to replace the existing pull up bars at the same time as these now require replacement.
• The benches will also be replaced with timber park benches with back and armrests and one accessible picnic table installed.
• The park railing repainting will be carried out subject to available budget, but we will commit to repaint all 4 entrance gates and the railings around the children’s play area.

The installation of new sculpture and the ground mural were the least supported and options and received the lowest ranking votes and will therefore not be considered further.

The improvements will be carried out over the autumn/winter period, and we hope that all the works will be completed by March/ April 2024.