Onchan District Commissioners The Future of Onchan Park The Future of Onchan Park: Report on the future provision of community services at Onchan Park This report has been prepared for The Board of Onchan District Commissioners By Mr S. Isherwood STEP Scheme Student August 2017 1 Onchan District Commissioners The Future of Onchan Park Map of Onchan Park A P B C D P G E H F K L I J N O M A – Park Fields I – Crown Green B – Secondary Grandstand J – Park Lawn C – Football Pitch K – Boating Lake D – Motorsport Tracks L – Crazy Golf E – Childrens Play Park M – Pitch & Putt F – Fun Factory and Dance Studio N – Flat Green G – Main Grandstand O – Tennis Courts H – Café and Restaurant P – Car Parking 2 Onchan District Commissioners The Future of Onchan Park TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary 5 Background 7 Introduction 8 SECTION ONE – FEEDBACK FROM THE PUBLIC 9 Repeated Points 9 Other Suggestions/Points 17 SECTION TWO: ASSOCIATED BUSINESSES, CLUBS & SOCIETIES 17 Onchan Raceway 18 Onchan AFC 23 Onchan Crown Green Bowling Club 26 Onchan Park Café 29 Pay Hut Operator 33 Isle of Man Flat Green Bowling Club 36 Fun Factory & Dance Studio 39 The Views Restaurant 43 SECTION THREE: AGENCIES AND ORGANISATIONS 46 Julie Edge, MHK for Onchan 46 Robert Callister, MHK for Onchan 48 Onchan Heritage 49 Commissioners Officers 51 Isle of Man Tourism 54 Isle of Man Sport 55 3 Onchan District Commissioners The Future of Onchan Park SECTION FOUR: RELEVANT STRATEGY AND POLICY 56 Isle of Man Strategic Plan – Recreational Policies 57 Isle of Man Strategy for Sport 2014 – 2024 60 Isle of Man Strategy for Children and Young People 2015 – 2020 64 Disability Discrimination Act 2006 66 SECTION FIVE: OPTIONS 69 Nivison Stadium 69 The Park Fields 73 Children’s Play Park 75 Bowling Greens 76 Tennis Courts 77 Pitch and Putt 79 Park Lawn 79 Central Facilities 81 Crazy Golf 82 Skateboarding 83 SECTION SIX: RECOMMENDATIONS 85 Nivison Stadium 85 Pleasure Park 88 Children’s Play Park 91 Central Facilities 92 Other 94 SECTION SEVEN: PROPOSED ACTION PLAN 96 4 Onchan District Commissioners The Future of Onchan Park Executive Summary Feedback and correspondence from the public following the Authoritys initial Call for Ideas raised the following key points: The Park Fields are should retain its present open and green character. The Pleasure Park is running well and people are enjoying the facility The childrens play area is popular and generally well maintained Removal of the tennis courts are generally opposed There are mixed opinions around the events and usage of the Nivison Stadium Improvements and change are generally welcomed and looked forward to This report consulted the stakeholders and tenants of Onchan in order to ascertain what their views are about what direction the park should take. There are many views and points included in the substantive of this document however the key point(s) of each are listed below: Onchan Raceway – The operators of the raceway are keen to remain in the Nivison Stadium and state that they offer a unique attraction to the Park. They cite their long-standing operation in the Nivison Stadium and the large amounts of spectators that they attract to their meets Onchan AFC – There are a number of issues regarding damage to the football pitch as a result of vehicles from motorsport events encroaching onto the grass. They believe a community sports facility that could improve footballing facilities alongside recreational facilities that the community would benefit from would be a good way to increase the usage of the stadium. This would also ease pressure on other facilities which are in extremely high demand Onchan Crown Green Bowling – There are a small number of minor adjustments they would like to see made to their facility however are generally content. They suggest that any events that could increase footfall in the Park would be highly beneficial. They also believe that a community sports & recreation facility would be of more financial sense and community benefit Onchan Park Café – There are a number of improvements that could be made to their building. They believe that events in the Park would improve the footfall and success of associated businesses. Additionally, advertisement and marketing for the Park is in need of improvement. The motorsport facility in the stadium is perceived positively as a unique attraction Pay Hut Operator – The Pleasure Park is generally running well however more needs to be done to market the Park as it appears that there is little advertising at present. It is also believed that the Park should host more events or corporate days to increase interest throughout the season 5 Onchan District Commissioners The Future of Onchan Park Isle of Man Flat Green Bowling – They are generally content with the current situation and are grateful for the maintenance of the green. They would support any development that would encourage increased sporting or physical recreation around the Park area. Fun Factory and Dance Studio – There were a number of issues regarding accessibility and windows however these are being looked into. A suggestion was made that an outdoor area would be appreciated; this would likely mean expansion over the current banked track. The hosting of special events is believed to have the potential to benefit the park a good deal The Views Restaurant – A priority issue in regards to accessibility was identified as the only access at present is via stairs. Increased special events in the park would be perceived to have positive effect on associated businesses. The introduction of a sport and recreation facility is believed by the restaurant to have the potential for benefit to the year round use of the park This report also consulted a number of other organisations and agencies for their opinions on the suggested developments. For the sake of brevity, their accounts have not been included in this summary however they can be found, in full, in the substantive document. This report then goes on to make a number of recommendations based on the evidence gathered. They are as follows however explanations, debate and justification can be found in full in the substantive of this document. The crazy golf course should be replaced with new obstacles to make it a more attractive feature of the park The battery powered kiddie-cars should be replaced and the track extended The Park Lawn should be covered with a soft play surface which could facilitate year round, versatile play as well as acting as a hard standing for special events The Nivison Stadium should be converted to a community based sports and recreation facility that can cater for a variety of leisure and sporting activities both indoors and outdoors Lighting and decoration around the park should be improved so to increase the attractiveness and safety of the area Efforts should be made to facilitate physical activity and active journeys The Park should host a greater number and wide variety of special events to boost interest and footfall to the park The overarching aim of Onchan Park should be to serve the local community; any development should therefore be designed with the community interest at its heart. 6 Onchan District Commissioners The Future of Onchan Park Background Onchan Park has been an integral part of life in Onchan as well as the entire island since 1951 when it opened its gates for the first time. From its beginning, Onchan Park was revered for its cycling track and as such a great number of prestigious cycling events were held there. The Park was also complemented by a series of attractive additions such as the bowling greens, miniature and putting golf attractions and a childrens play area. The Park saw further developments in the form of eateries and the boating lake which are well known to all who have visited the Park. Many of these facilities and attractions are in the very same place as they were initially developed and so the Park is steeped in its own heritage. This heritage is an integral part of island life and local residents should quite rightly be proud of such history. It has however been recognised that Onchan Park has seen better years causing certain areas of the Park to look worn and old. The wants and needs of the community today are considerably different to those of today and so the Park is in need of some attention in order to align the services and entertainment it can offer to the requirements of the community, stakeholders, local clubs and interested organisations. There have been a number of refurbishment developments to the Park in the past few years however Onchan District Commissioners (the Authority) are considering a larger scale development to the Park The Authority are seeking to develop Onchan Park to enhance its ability to serve and entertain the community and also facilitate the clubs, businesses and societies associated with the Park. As such, between the 24th February 2017 and the 30th March, the Authority launched an informal public consultation in the form of a call for ideas with the aim of collecting a wide range of views and opinions regarding the Park from all persons interested. In this, the Authority made clear that the overarching aims of any development would be to meet the needs of the community, ensure easy access to all members of the community and maintain Onchan Park as a safe, attractive and enjoyable leisure space that the residents of Onchan and the Isle of Man could be proud of. In this initial consultation document (attached as Annex A), respondents were asked to consider how best the Park could progress in its four key areas of function: Community Sports – Nivison Stadium, sports grounds, motorsport facility, grandstands and associated facilities Pleasure Park – Boating lake, golfing attractions, bowling facilities and other associated attractions and rides Central Facilities – Onchan Park Café, The Views Restaurant, indoor soft play area, dance studio and the former arcade Childrens Play Park – Area to the west of the Nivison Stadium containing childrens play equipment, climbing frames, slides etc.