Project Type: Park Regeneration
Client: Sheffield City Council
Model with flags at consultation
In 2000 The Neighbourhood Initiatives Foundation carried out a Planning for Real community consultation. The overall aims of the project were to improve the quality of life of the local people and improve the image of the area, using the regeneration of High Hazels Park as a catalyst to stimulate the social, environmental and economic regeneration of the area as whole.
High Hazels Park, whose original design had great historical merit, was established in 1895 and was a centre for social activity at the heart of the community. Over time the original 70-acre structure had been gradually eroded and use of the park declined and was increasingly perceived as a run down and dangerous place to be.
Problems that were associated with the park included:
- lack of people using the park and lack of staff presence, leading to the perception of the park as an uninviting place
- poor environmental quality of the area
- lack of low cost and free quality recreation facilities in the area
- seasonal patterns of usage and overall low levels of use
- lack of events and structured activities in the park
- difficulty in developing opportunities to bring a wider range of activities and increase interest in the park.
The specific objectives included:
- undertake a feasibility study based on public consultation to guide the future of the park
- develop management options and activities that integrated the requirements of the local community into the management of the park, contribute to a better environment and improved perception of the area
- facilitate the production of a regeneration plan, funding strategy and business plan, placing the park in the wider context of the local area
- specifically target those in the community suffering from disadvantage and social exclusion
- work to increase the use of the park by designing and undertaking initiatives with the local community to make the park a safe and welcoming place
- develop the park as an educational resource, in conjunction with local schools, in a variety of ways
- raise awareness of the benefits to the health of local community arising from the contribution of formal and informal recreation in a better environment to their mental and physical well-being
- work with local businesses to maximise the beneficial effects of the local economy
Recent feedback by Sally Cuckney – Project Development Officer
The project team faced a difficult task of trying to consult with a disjointed community in an area where there are 5 recognised languages; some people have no literacy skills. The importance however of some comprehensive consultation was crucial to the future development of the park. The team needed to know what people wanted in the park and how this could be prioritised so a realistic plan could be delivered. The team made contact with Neighbourhood Initiatives Foundation (NIF). It was strongly felt that a visual, hands-on method would be more effective than traditional questionnaires. “Planning For Real” method of consultation seemed the best way forward.
A good way to involve people from the very beginning was to get the local schools to help make the 3D model of the park and the surrounding area. The team contacted three local schools; Greenlands Junior, Philimore Park Primary & Waltheof Secondary School. The schools agreed it would be of great educational benefit and the mapping of the park was incorporated into the national curriculum. NIF provided the base map with contours in easily transportable sections. These sections were then divided up between the schools for the pupils to complete the painting of the model and the making of the trees and buildings.
10 local volunteers from the Friends of High Hazels Park and the staff were then trained in the Planning For Real process and working groups were set up on how the consultation would be delivered and publicised. It was agreed that the completed model be taken into the schools for the children to put their flags in the map. Because of the involvement of so many children, the parents of the children were then very interested in what the future plans for the park were and also contributed to the consultation.
The main consultation was done at Darnall Festival, which is a multicultural festival held in High Hazels Park. To attract more people there was an extra bonus of a cash prize draw and the children were given balloons. It was a great success and over 3000 flags were placed in the map. The suggestion flags were translated into the 5 common languages and most had symbols on them for those that couldn’t read. The team were overwhelmed with the success of the responses from local people. There were several queries about the location of the flags, many people just wanted to put their ideas onto the map but perhaps did not understand where the proposed facilities would be located. This did not detract from the validity of the consultation but merely highlighted that experts should do the design plan to appropriately locate the facilities. The suggestion flags were then collected and recorded by NIF. From this, a smaller working group decided on the importance and amount of requests from the local community and how these could be prioritised.
Landscape Architects were then employed to draw up a regeneration plan for the park on the basis of the Planning For Real consultation. The project team then had a comprehensive phased development plan to follow. Funding has been applied for in order of community priorities and monies available in accordance with the park plan. The team has successfully achieved many of the most highly prioritised facilities e.g. new play areas, seating etc. The team are continuing to follow the regeneration plan and apply for further facilities and training for the local community.
For more information about this contact NIF on 01952 590777 or email admin@nif.co.uk
