[2012-22] Ravenscourt Park Management Plan
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[2012-22] Ravenscourt Park Management Plan 10 years Management and Maintenance Plan Revision Date Author(s) Approved for LBHF by: V1 30/02/12 Andrew Kauffman / Preeti Paul Bassi Chatwal (QSL) V2 15/02/13 Andrew Kauffman / Preeti Paul Bassi Chatwal (QSL) 2 CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................... 4 AIMS................................................................................................................................................. 4 OBJECTIVES.................................................................................................................................... 4 2 ACTION PLAN PROGRESS SUMMARY ............................................................................ 5 2.1 KEY PROJECTS YEAR 2012: ................................................................................................... 6 3 STRATEGIC CONTEXT ....................................................................................................... 9 3.1 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................... 9 3.2 HAMMERSMITH AND FULHAM COMMUNITY STRATEGY ........................................................... 9 3.3 PARKS AND OPEN SPACES STRATEGY ..................................................................................... 9 3.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF RAVENSCOURT PARK TOWARDS ACHIEVING STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES ......... 10 4 RAVENSCOURT PARK SITE INFORMATION AND DESCRIPTION ........................... 11 4.1 SITE DETAILS ...................................................................................................................... 11 4.2 LOCATION ........................................................................................................................... 12 4.3 SOILS .................................................................................................................................. 12 4.4 HYDROLOGY ....................................................................................................................... 13 4.5 FLORA, FAUNA AND NATURE CONSERVATION....................................................................... 13 4.6 TREES ................................................................................................................................. 13 4.7 FACILITIES AND FEATURES .................................................................................................. 14 YOUTH FACILITIES ....................................................................................................................... 14 CHILDREN’S FACILITIES ................................................................................................................ 15 SPORTS FACILITIES ....................................................................................................................... 17 4.8 HISTORY OF RAVENSCOURT PARK ........................................................................................ 17 4.9 ARCHAEOLOGY ................................................................................................................... 18 4.10 PRESENT USE .................................................................................................................. 18 4.11 MANAGEMENT ................................................................................................................ 18 4.12 STAKEHOLDERS .............................................................................................................. 19 4.13 ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS ................................................................................................. 20 4.14 LEASES, COVENANTS AND LEGAL INTEREST .................................................................... 21 4.15 TITLE ............................................................................................................................. 21 5 VISION .................................................................................................................................. 22 6 WHAT WE WANT TO ACHIEVE ...................................................................................... 23 6.1 CREATING A WELCOMING PARK .......................................................................................... 24 6.2 A HEALTHY, SAFE AND SECURE PARK.................................................................................. 28 6.3 A WELL MAINTAINED AND CLEAN PARK ............................................................................. 37 6.4 ACHIEVING SUSTAINABLE SPACES ....................................................................................... 41 6.5 CONSERVATION AND HERITAGE ........................................................................................... 46 6.6 COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT ................................................................................................ 50 6.7 MARKETING ........................................................................................................................ 55 6.8 MANAGEMENT .................................................................................................................... 57 7 MONITORING AND PLAN REVIEW ................................................................................ 60 8 REFERENCES ...................................................................................................................... 60 9 APPENDICES ....................................................................................................................... 60 3 1 Introduction Ravenscourt Park is one of the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham’s Flagship Parks. The park is located a short walk from the Hammersmith Town centre and is accessible from the London Underground station of the same name. The 8.3 hectare open space is well used and loved by local residents and visitors from neighbouring boroughs. The space is popular for young children with 4 play areas and a paddling pool and is also used for sports, physical activity and simply enjoying the heritage, landscaping and wildlife. Combining attractive landscaping and a good range of wildlife habitats Ravenscourt Park has an excellent array of leisure facilities, including a wide variety of play equipment, tennis and basketball courts, an all weather pitch and a popular tea-house. It is extremely popular with all sections of the local community. This is evident in the large number of formal stakeholder groups with an interest in the park, its management and future development. The Park is an important community asset and forms part of the wider structural open space network of Greater London. Hammersmith and Fulham Council recognise that our open spaces are very important to residents and the wider community. They contribute to healthier lifestyles, social cohesion and encourage safer communities. The park provides for a variety of active and passive leisure activities and organised sports. The space is popular and highly valued by local residents. The park has a colourful history. It was originally saved from residential development when acquired by the then Metropolitan Board of Works with additional funds from the Vestry of Hammersmith in 1887. The public park was laid out by J. J. Sexby and was opened on the 19 May 1888. The park is currently owned and managed by Hammersmith and Fulham Council. Aims The aims of the management plan is to set out a comprehensive framework and information regarding Ravenscourt Park from policy and statutory framework, asset audit, its importance to the local community, operational management and a strategic development until 2022. It is a live document which will be reviewed annually to ensure that the site remains a quality park and can adapt to public needs and an essential environmental resource. Objectives The objectives for the sustainable management and future development of Ravenscourt Park are structured around the eight key criteria set by the Green Flag Award: 1. Creating a Welcoming Space 2. Providing a Park that is Healthy, Safe and Secure 3. A Park that is Clean and Well Maintained 4. Sustainable Management of Resources 5. Appropriate Management of Conservation and Heritage Features 6. Encouraging Community Involvement 7. Marketing the Facility Effectively 8. Implementation of Effective Management Strategies 4 2 Action Plan Progress Summary Progress against the action plan projects in Section 6 of this Management Plan is summarised below. Projects are added to this list upon completion. Date Funding # Description Objective Value Completed Source Improve planting at Paddenswick Road 1 Aug 2012 Contract £1K entrance Replace worn tarmac In progress Dec areas at key locations 1 Revenue £8K 2012 around the park. Provide everyone with a range of high quality and well maintained relevant facilities. A £197,500 4 August 2012 Capital £197,500 Improvement to the basketball area from a range of external funding sources. Review the provision of the dog free area at Ravenscourt Park part of Completed Dec 8 Revenue £5K the Citizens Space Parks 2012 Survey. See results Appendix 16 Scheduled felling and pruning as a result of Completed Jan 11 Revenue £4K comprehensive tree 2013 survey November 2012. Review the provision of recycling and dog waste bins. Larger capacity bins 12 Jan 2013 Capital £3K placed in strategic locations in the park. Discourage vandalism and graffiti through education. Successful application External 13 Jan 2013