Park consultation report

Watson Park greenspace scotland

August 2016

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Description

Watson Park (also known locally as the Corrie) lies on the north side of the town of Armadale. It is next to the B8084 North Street and opposite the library and community centre. A number of other community facilities are nearby including the swimming pool and the Watson Memorial Bowling Club. The park has a relatively new play area, a full size football pitch, changing rooms (these are due to be upgraded/replaced in the near future), a bowling green and a BMX track. A war memorial is due for relocation into the area to the west of the bowling green. There is also a car parking area which is in poor condition and two underused hard landscaped areas. One is a fenced-off set of all-weather tennis courts and the other a large area of tarmac which used to be a children’s playground. The park is home to the Armadale Gala and hosts other community events including the town fireworks display. The park is not particularly old, having been created in the mid-1900s. Until at least the early 1960s the area was open, undeveloped land with a burn running through it. The consultants were told locally that the area to the east of the park is undercut by mining tunnels.

1937-61 OS map showing the approximate location of the park

Park consultation

West Lothian Council has allocated funds to improve the Park in the financial year 2017/18. Greenspace scotland was commissioned by the Council to carry out this initial consultation to gauge local opinion about the current condition of the park and how it could be improved to meet local needs. This is the start of the placemaking process for the park. The consultation involved a drop in event and an online survey. Due to adverse weather on the day we were only able to speak to 6 people on site but we had a further 22 online survey responses.

Survey participants were asked to provide their postcode to give an indication of where feedback was coming from.

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Placemaking results

Evaluating the place

Participants in the survey (through whichever means) were asked to rate the Park. The criteria used to assess the quality of the park were those used in greenspace scotland’s Community Placemaking approach (which is derived from the work of Project for Public Spaces – see Appendix 2: references). This approach can be used to assess the place quality of the park before and after improvements and is used as a starting point for generating ideas for improvement. The results of the initial evaluation are shown below (please note that not all respondents completed each section of the evaluation).

Comfort and Image Access and Linkages Uses and Activities Sociability and Community Involvement

From this initial evaluation, it can be seen that the park scores well (more high scores than low) for visibility from a distance, ease of access to the park, accessibility for all and the presence of children and older people using the park (this is generally a sign of a public place where people feel comfortable and safe). The park also scored quite well for quality of management but there was more of a difference of opinion over this with a good proportion of respondents scoring these criteria as low.

Where the park scored lowest was: places to sit around the park, mix of facilities and uses, and overall attractiveness. It also scores poorly with respect to community involvement in the park and the level of local ‘ownership’. This gives a strong steer as to the areas where improvement is required.

How the park is currently used

Watson Park is primarily used by people living locally. It is well used by local football teams and the play area was complemented by many of the survey respondents. The other main use for the park is for dog walking. Its location means that it is unlikely to be used as a through route since there are easier road and pavement links to key facilities nearby. There was little in the feedback to show whether the BMX track is used or not.

What people like about the park as it is

Most people liked the fact that the park was a large, open and green space which is well located. People also commented positively on how accessible the park is – although a number pointed out that the path within the park only runs from one end to the other meaning that some parts of the park are hard to access if you have any restrictions to your mobility (including pushing a buggy).

How people would like to use the park in future

There was a good level of support for increasing the range of opportunities for sport and physical activity. This includes improvements to the football facilities, revamping and re-opening the tennis courts, and creating a multi-use path around the park. There was also support for increasing the range of play opportunities and facilities. A number of people reported that they would like to see more seating and also picnic benches in the park. A number of dog walkers indicated that the park was an important part of how they exercise their pets.

Suggestions for improvements

Grouping all suggestions (short and long term), the most common suggestions were:

1. Improve paths The current paths effectively run from the car park to the north of the park up the west side of the football pitch. This means that people are concentrated in this area. The main path could be designed to support cycling as well as walking.

2. Create more colour in the park There was a desire for landscaping and flower beds to create more colour and interest in the park.

3. Increase the range of physical activity and spor ts provision This could start with bringing the existing tennis courts back up to standard and back into use. This could include use any upgraded paths for running and cycling. The underused southern end of the park offers a number of opportunities (in addition to bringing the tennis courts back). Could the hard standing area accommodate skate facilities or an area for exercising? A number of people spoke about the possibility of having exercise equipment in the park but others were unsure whether these would be used.

4. Improve the site drainage The football club should be consulted to see whether drainage is a problem for them (it was reported as an issue by a couple of people). The drainage problems in the rest of the park need to be looked at as well.

5. More places to sit People would like to be able to sit and watch their children playing and also to watch the football matches in comfort but there is also a desire for seating elsewhere in the park. Seating should be located in places where there is plenty to see and/or do. This could include picnic tables.

6. Create more for dog walkers and segregate dogs ( and dog mess) from the other uses of the park This could be approached by designating/recommending dog exercise areas away from where children play and the football pitches.

7. Continue the improvement of the play facilities People generally liked the new play park but a number felt that they wanted to see more. Eliburn Park was mentioned as a good example of what could be achieved.

8. Better signage Several people mentioned that there were few signs showing where the park is (and that people tend to refer to the park as the Corrie). This includes signage at the park entrances.

Note: the detail of individual responses from the w orkshop and the survey is presented as Annex 1 to t his report

greenspace scotland recommendations

1. Create a path circuit around the park This will have multiple benefits. It will increase accessibility; it will encourage a wider range of uses of the park (supporting running etc. and create a dry area to stand on the ‘far’ side of the football pitch (for coaches and spectators).

2. Tackle the park’s drainage problems Some of these relate to the football pitch but there is a really bad area for flooding at the north western corner of the park which has an impact on accessibility and the appearance at this end of the park. It should be noted that the historic maps of the area show that the burn which ran across the park site went under the road at this point and it may be that the current surface flooding problem relates to this culvert.

3. Increase the range of uses of the park Perhaps, the easiest place to start this would be to upgrade the tennis courts to bring them back into use and to develop a positive use for the tarmac area beyond the tennis courts. The potential for introducing exercise equipment into the park should be included in the ongoing consultation/engagement during the development of plans for the park. Thought should also be given to the potential for introducing further play facilities.

4. Introduce colour to the park There was a demand for more flowers and flower beds. This might be taken forward with the Armadale In Bloom group.

5. Provide comfortable and pleasant places to sit These should be located close to play features and to make the most of the views of the football pitch and the park as a whole.

6. Improve park entrances Small scale actions to increase the ‘presence’ of the park could include new signage at the entrances from North Street and at the car park. These entrances could also be made more visible (or, in the case of the car park, more usable) with a little maintenance and a repaint for the gates to make them stand out more from the railings.

7. Encourage dog walkers to use the northern end of the park The northern end of the park is higher than the rest of the park and is away from the football pitches and play areas. This offers an opportunity to confine dog walking to this area through signage and outreach to local dog walkers or by creating a designated and fenced ‘dog exercise area’. Dog walkers should be encouraged to avoid the ‘active’ parts of the park.

Next steps

The recommendations within this report will form the brief for a landscape architect who will draw up a draft plan for park improvements. The draft plan will be circulated for comments and to help prioritise improvements further, if necessary. A revised, costed plan will then be drawn up and circulated. Once agreed, the improvement works will be issued for tender.

Partners

The following potential partners were identified by survey participants:

Armadale Community Centre Management Committee Community Centre Armadale in Bloom Community Council Armadale Community Football Club Community House Youth Space Youth groups Retired people Scottish Police West Lothian Council

Appendix 1 – all suggestions

What do you like about the place?

Park is quite open Plenty of greenspace Vast space Big open space Open Grass area Large area open to all Wide open space Nice open big space accessible with some parking available

Ease of getting to and good space for dog walking I find it accessible but unsure if it would be for wheelchair users or others with mobility concerns Level and flat with defined walkways

The new play park New play park

Football facilities

Well maintained, used by community

Not much. The only reason I go to the park is on the gala day for the shows and attractions. Even then, it’s covered in dog ****.

What would you like to be able to do here?

More use Think it is used a lot by dog walkers, football clubs. Maybe more activities for children A range of sports Rugby active outdoor sports Activities for adults e.g. running/ball games Schools’ use of the park? Activities for kids Maybe skate park Update the tennis court

More play areas for children Decent sized play park for kids of a wide age group Better playing area Better climbing frame that would suit all ages

Sit and relax Sit/picnic Would like to see more seating to enjoy the vista. Picnic Places for picnics and games in the summer time

Football 5 a-side football Better football facilities run for the community and beyond

Dog walking Dog walking Permanent dog agility equipment - jumps, tunnel etc.

Nice flower beds Some flowers would be nice too

Hold large events such as funfairs, fireworks, and Gala day Zebra crossing on north street to park Play games in a clean park Be able to park without dropping down a hole, be able to park at

nights in a well-lit area Not have to worry about young groups of kids being drunk and aggressive if I went there with my dog later on

Take my 2 kids there without worrying about them getting injured on rubbish or vandalised structures

Improvement suggestions

Improved paths around park Walking paths around the park Flatter paths as it is difficult for buggies and wheelchairs to move around on the paths and the grass. Tarmac paths Bike circuit Create a cycle path around the park Cycle path

Planting Flower beds / allotments Simple flower beds add a bit of colour and personality to the park Flowers Flower beds! Some landscaping feature to sit among Flowers

Sports equipment for young people to use Put back the tennis facilities Re-open tennis facilities Update tennis courts and encourage use Make it a sports hub Better football facilities

Drainage Drainage for the path. It floods easily. Better drainage (esp. on football pitch) Ground needs drainage sorted it's usually swamped this would help football teams etc. get use from it

Clearer signs/directions to the park Better signage Signs about local heritage Signs could be better

Seating Seating put in Seating improved and picnic benches Picnic tables so more people can have picnics

More play equipment, accessible for all children. The play park for kids - it needs to be much better Equipment like Eliburn Park - some 'fitness' and a dog play area

Perhaps youths given an area for them away from the kids play park Something for teenagers

Develop multi use of the green space More to do More people using it so it feels safer

Indoor places – so not weather reliant Community facilities Toilets etc.

More bins Bins for dog poo More dog waste bins as the dog dirt everywhere is disgusting

Appealing entrances Clearer entrances

CCTV Improved cleanliness Perhaps allotments to rent for members of the community Develop the area beyond the football park

Any other comments

The park is used annually for events – e.g. gala day

Children and older people use the park when weather is good

Park is used mainly for football and dog walking

Park used well by football and once a year for gala but not much more it seems – opportunities

Lots of broken glass sometimes

The entrances to the park are unwelcoming and need barriers to protect children from both the road and cars parking.

This is a park I use daily to walk the dog and the kids love to come with me to play on the swing park. This is a very popular park for kids and dog walkers alike and a great way to meet new people. Great having this right on my doorstep.

The tennis courts could be used (cage), if the football community club is perhaps looking to gain a facility in Watson Park, could they help let them out / look after them and encourage use for tennis. North street needs crossing to Watson Park then perhaps if parking area was improved / lit others would use it.

Play park for kids needs a tidy up; perhaps involving local youths in the consultation by visiting schools for their thoughts might make them think twice about climbing on roofs around the park or damaging things

The park looks old and run down. It's a place I wouldn't go near when it's dark; due to the horrible groups of youngsters getting up to God knows what. It's a haven for idiots to congregate and do whatever they feel. Inadequate lighting, inadequate safety, inadequate facilities. I also feel if the park was upgraded, it wouldn't be long before the young idiots ruined but again. It’s not so much the park, but the people that abuse it that is the issue

It’s been run down for years and could do with a total overhaul. Maybe a sports complex, 4g footy pitch and a sports hall would be ideal and generate income. Got to speculate to accumulate

Some night lighting is essential for dog walkers.

Lovely big space with a lot of room for improvement and development definitely needs some flower beds brighten the place up properly drainage so the parks can be used for football etc. and a big decent sized play park that caters for a range of ages

Lighting walk ways would be great!

Appendix 2 References

The following West Lothian Council strategies and other documents were consulted in the development of this report:

• Open Space Strategy • Sports Pitches Strategy

The placemaking methodology can be found at http://greenspacescotland.org.uk/community-placemaking-.aspx