Baxter Park Walking & Activities Grup - A Research Paper

Transcription

1 Octber 2011 Walkable Cmmunities: lcal peple taking actin Baxter Park Walking & Activities Grup supprted by Living Streets Sctland An audit f a path thrugh Baxter Park, Dundee Living Streets

2 Cntents Page Summary 3 Intrductin 4 Audit rute and prcess 4 Demgraphic cntext 5 Findings and recmmendatins 6 Shrt-term recmmendatins fr actin 6 Lnger-term recmmendatins fr actin 7 Relatinship t Cuncil plans and pririties 9 Cntact details 10 Living Streets 2

3 Summary On 10 Octber 2011 an audit f a path thrugh Baxter Park, Dundee was undertaken by the Baxter Park Walking & Activities Grup. The Baxter Park Walking & Activities Grup is pen t all adults, including thse with disabilities, and is part f the Dundee Healthy Living Initiative physical activity prgramme. Street audits are a structured and systematic methd f evaluating the quality f paths, streets and spaces fr walking frm the pint f view f thse wh use them. Frm the audit f the Baxter Park path the grup agreed the fllwing pririty shrt and lnger term actins that wuld imprve cnditins fr walking fr as many peple as pssible with differing abilities: Shrt term clear all drains t prevent flding f the path. Lnger term re-surfacing f the path t prvide a level and unbrken surface. Shrt-term actins are cnsidered by the grup t have the ptential t imprve the walking envirnment within a three mnth perid and at lw cst. It is appreciated that lnger-term actins may be f higher cst and therefre may take lnger t deliver. Hwever, the grup felt that it wuld appreciate a respnse n the feasibility and timescales fr delivery f these actins. Other shrt-term recmmendatins fr actin Prvide at least ne park bench alng the suthern aspect f the path. Clearance and preventin f dg fuling. Prvide mre waste bins. Other lnger-term recmmendatins fr actin Implement a management plan t facilitate all-day public access t tilets. Repair the msaic and surrunding cncrete utside the park centre. Other findings and recmmendatins fr imprving the walking envirnment are als utlined in the findings sectin f this reprt. While these issues shuld als be addressed it is the pririty shrt and lnger term issues that the grup feels merit mre immediate attentin. We depend n the park quite a lt fr places t walk, and if the paths are bad this limits ur ptins even mre. Grup member Living Streets 3

4 Intrductin Living Streets is the natinal charity that stands up fr pedestrians. With ur supprters we wrk t create safe, attractive and enjyable streets, where peple want t walk. We wrk with prfessinals and pliticians t make sure every cmmunity can enjy vibrant streets and public spaces. The Baxter Park Walking & Activities Grup draws its membership frm peple lcal t the Stbswell area and frm ther surrunding areas f Dundee. The grup meets every Mnday t take part in a led health walk within Baxter Park and since the grup started in 2009 members have enjyed health and scial benefits frm their weekly walks. Several grup members have nted imprved mbility, while all enjy the camaraderie that has built up within the grup. Abilities f grup members vary, with assistance needs ranging frm use f walking sticks t use f wheelchairs. Several members require the assistance f a carer wh must walk alngside at all times. The grup is pen t and attended by adults f all ages. Bth men and wmen attend the walks regularly. The health walks are aimed at increasing levels f physical activity and prviding scial supprt inclusive f peple wh have a pre-existing disability. The duratin and distance f walks are therefre set accrdingly and heavily depend n the path netwrk within Baxter Park. It is therefre imprtant that the cnditin f these paths shuld be f a standard that encurages physical activity amngst thse with a range f abilities. Unfrtunately the grup felt the cnditin f sme paths in the park makes it difficult fr peple with disabilities t use them with ease, enjyment and cnfidence. The event was facilitated by Living Streets Sctland as part f its Walkable Cmmunities prject. Living Streets has received funding frm Scttish Gvernment t wrk with cmmunity grups acrss Sctland in 2011/12 t help them imprve the walking envirnment in their neighburhds. Further infrmatin n this wrk can be fund at Audit rute and prcess Baxter Park is a beautiful green asis in the heart f the city that is highly valued by the grup and the wider cmmunity. It is easy t access, well signpsted and ffers a range f amenities fr children and adults. The grup is very appreciative f the imprvements made t the park in recent years. While there is indeed high quality all-abilities prvisin within the path netwrk, there are ther key links within the park that d nt meet this standard; and this has resulted in limited pprtunities fr physical activity fr sme users f the park. The audit f the path thrugh Baxter Park, identified as presenting barriers t its use by peple with differing abilities, allwed the grup t critically review this path, decide n pririty and ther issues and slutins and t take actin t influence nthe-grund changes. The grup walked the rute as indicated at Figure 1, identifying, discussing and recrding issues that encuraged and discuraged its use fr walking. Issues identified were then discussed in detail befre agreement was reached n key shrt and lnger term pririties fr actins that wuld imprve the walking envirnment. Living Streets 4

5 N Figure 1 Key: Audit rute The audit was als attended by Irene Shearer and Clin Dnald frm Friends f Baxter Park; Mr Stuart Fairweather, Cmmunities Officer, Dundee City Cuncil and Ms Alisn Christie, Cmmunity Health Wrker, Dundee Healthy Living Initiative. Demgraphic cntext Baxter Park is surrunded by the areas f Stbswell, Maryfield, Craigie and Ellengwan t the west, nrth, east and suth respectively. The path subject t audit serves as a cnnecting rute, within the wider park path netwrk, between these areas. In additin t the leisure amenities within the park itself, key trip generatrs in the immediate area include: Stbswell shpping area. Glebelands Primary Schl and Mrgan Academy. Stbswell and Park Avenue Medical Centres. Public huses. Stbsmuir Pnds. Baxter Park and its envirns are part f the Maryfield Ward (5) f Dundee City lcal authrity area. These are primarily residential areas f mixed density and tenure. Seventy-three percent f the ppulatin in Maryfield is aged years with 14% aged 65 r ver and 13% aged 0 15 years. Fifty-eight percent f dataznes in Maryfield were in the 30% mst deprived in Sctland in the 2009 Scttish Index f Multiple Deprivatin, cmpared t 49.7% f Dundee s dataznes. 1 1 Dundee Partnership, Lcal Cmmunity Planning Partnership Prfile: Maryfield June 2010 Living Streets 5

6 Findings and recmmendatins Shrt-term recmmendatins fr actin: Pririty issue 1. Blcked drains Blcked drains were nted at three particular lcatins alng the suthern and lwer-west aspects f the path. With ne drain the amunt f grass grwing ut f it resulted in a change in surface level, which in turn results in a trip hazard. In wet weather the drains verflw and fld the surrunding path. Flding f the path is messy, incnvenient and ff-putting fr all but can als present particular prblems fr peple with mbility r visual difficulties: Flded sectins f the path cannt easily be avided. There is an increased risk f slipping, particularly if cnditins are frsty r icy. There is an increased risk f skidding fr wheelchair users, particularly if cnditins are frsty r icy. This really puts yu ff using this part f the park, s smetimes ur walks are cut shrt. Grup member Recmmendatin Clear all blcked drains alng the path. Other shrt-term recmmendatins fr actin 2. Lack f seating alng suthern aspect f the path While there is generally a gd level f seat prvisin within the park there are n seats fr apprximately 400 metres alng the suthern aspect f the path between the tennis curts and the bwling green. A lack f resting places can make it difficult fr lder peple, peple rehabilitating frm illness and peple with disabilities t make use f what wuld therwise be a useful path within the park. My dad wuldn t make it this far withut sitting dwn." Audit participant Recmmendatin Prvide at least ne park bench alng the suthern aspect f the path. 3. Dg fuling Living Streets 6

7 Dg fuling was nted alng the path adjacent t Baxter Park Terrace. Dg fuling presents the fllwing prblems fr grup members and ther pedestrians: It is nt always seen in time fr members t avid stepping in it. It is incnvenient and at times difficult fr members with reduced mbility t step arund it. It makes walking in the park an unpleasant experience. There are ptential health risks fr children wh may tuch it. The grup wished t nte in particular that the difficulties assciated with dg fuling are magnified fr peple wh are required t walk with a carer, r wh use buggies r wheelchairs. Recmmendatin Clear dg fuling regularly and frequently t ensure that walking in the park is a pleasant and enjyable experience fr peple f all abilities. Remind dg wners, perhaps thrugh the use f psters, that dg waste bags are available free f charge frm the park centre. Publicise cntact numbers n dg bins s that dg fuling issues can be easily reprted. Cnsider intrducing a designated dg exercise area within the park. 4. Lack f waste bins In cntrast t the gd prvisin elsewhere in the park there are n waste bins alng the lwer west aspect f the path (adjacent t Baxter Park Terrace). Prvisin f a waste bin in this area will encurage peple t keep the park clear f litter. Recmmendatin Prvide mre waste bins. Lnger-term recmmendatins fr actin: Pririty issue 5. Brken and uneven path surface The path varied in the quality f surface suitable fr all-abilities users. While sme parts f the path is in excellent cnditin ther stretches (see figure 2) present significant difficulties, and risks, fr peple with mbility and visual difficulties and fr wheelchair users. This results in what culd be an all-abilities rute being inaccessible fr sme users. N Figure 2 Key: Audit rute Pr surfaces Living Streets 7

8 Raised surfaces, fr example caused by tree rts, prtruding drains r run-ff ditches, create trip hazards that are difficult fr sme grup members t see and fr all t avid easily. It is als difficult t get wheelchairs ver raised surfaces. Depressins in the path surface, sme f which had a significant change in level, als present prblems. Peple with visual difficulties cannt see the change in level and are therefre at risk f tripping and/r falling. Peple with mbility difficulties can easily lse balance n brken surfaces and are als at increased risk f tripping and/r falling. Hwever, wheelchair users have particular prblems with brken surfaces. Wheelchairs can be thrwn t ne side as they mve ver uneven surfaces, causing cncern fr users and carers that they may lse cntrl f the chair and tpple ver. It is als mre difficult fr wheelchair users t avid depressins in surface when ging uphill. Recmmendatin Re-surface the path t prvide a high quality level and unbrken surface thrughut. I dn t like ging ver these bits. I always feel I m ging t fall ut. Grup member wh uses a wheelchair Other lnger-term recmmendatins fr actin 6. Lack f all-day access t public tilets There are n public tilets in the park that are pen all day. Tilets ffering disabled access are available in the park centre and the main pavilin, but these facilities are nt pen t the public all the time. Tilets are available in the pavilins adjacent t the bwling green n the suthern edge f the park, but again access is restricted. Pleasant, accessible and available tilets are particularly imprtant fr lder peple and peple wh require quick and easy access t such facilities. Lack f prvisin may discurage regular walking. Recmmendatin Implement a management plan t facilitate all-day public access t tilets. 7. Cracked and brken msaic utside the park centre The msaic and surrunding cncrete utside the park centre is cracked and brken. This makes what wuld therwise be an attractive and interesting feature unsightly. Recmmendatin Repair the msaic and surrunding cncrete. Living Streets 8

9 Relatinship t Cuncil plans and pririties The Dundee Partnership Maryfield Lcal Cmmunity Plan set ut pririties fr imprvement f the quality f life f peple living in Maryfield by making services, prjects and initiatives mre respnsive t lcal needs. The findings f the Baxter Park path audit directly relate t a number f agreed utcmes and at times assciated actins within the Plan, namely: Building strnger cmmunities Outcmes: Strng and diverse range f well supprted grups. An increased regular use f new and existing lcal facilities fr recreatin and learning. Actin: Increased use f Baxter Park (and its facilities) and ther green spaces by yung peple and adults thrugh prviding a managed apprach t tilet facilities. Envirnment Outcme: Imprvement f the cnditin f pavements, pathways, lighting, cycling, street name plates, parking and bus stps as part f a strategy t increase the range and number f peple making sustainable travel ptins Actin: Develp and maintain rutes fr walking and cycling via activity supprted by Smarter Chices Smarter Places; Outcme: Clear infrmatin regarding wh t cntact regarding dg fuling issues is made available t the public. Actin: Ensure cntact infrmatin fr dg fuling issues are n all existing and any new dg bins. Health and care Outcmes: Supprt fr activity that is accessible and prmtes cmmunity wellbeing. Achieve greater levels f participatin in physical activity by a wider range f lcal individuals. It is appreciated that the Maryfield Lcal Cmmunity Plan is currently under review. Hwever, the grup are cnfident that delivering the recmmendatins frm the Baxter Park path audit will cntinue t cntribute t meeting the Dundee Partnership s pririties fr the Maryfield area f Dundee. Living Streets 9

10 Cntact details This reprt is submitted by the Baxter Park Walking & Activities Grup. Please direct yur respnse t the grup s representative: Ms Sylvia Andersn 26 Wdlands Terrace DUNDEE DD4 9BE Tel: This reprt was written n behalf f the Baxter Park Walking & Activities Grup by Living Streets Sctland. Janice Gray Healthy Envirnments Officer Living Streets Sctland Thrn Huse, 5 Rse Street, Edinburgh. EH2 2PR. tel: janice.gray@livingstreets.rg.uk web: Living Streets is the natinal charity wrking t create safe, attractive and enjyable streets arund the UK Living Streets (The Pedestrians Assciatin) is a Registered Charity N (England and Wales) and SC (Sctland), Cmpany Limited by Guarantee (England & Wales), Cmpany Registratin N Registered ffice 4th Flr, Universal Huse, Wentwrth Street, Lndn. E1 7SA Living Streets 10