Grove Park Urban National Park
16/02/ 2018 ALEXANDRA STEED URBAN Grove Park Urban National Park Strategy iii
Contents
Site Context & Assessment 1
Precedents 13
Landscape Vision 21
Landscape Concept Image Sketches 27
Landscape Concept Design Structures and Materials 33 ALEXANDRA STEED
URBAN Alexandra Steed URBAN
Site Context & Assessment 2 Grove Park Urban National Park Strategy Wider Context
Context Characteristics Challenges Vision
The site is located on the south-east part of It includes public paths, pedestrian bridges, The main challenges for this project are The vision is to create a regional park that provides London, at the border between Lewisham and meadows, public parks, woodlands, cemeteries creating a coherent strategy by including it in various opportunities for recreation for users of all Bromley borough. and green land with high recreational programming London’s Green Infrastructure Plan, the various ages. By bringing the regional park into an urban potential. lands ownership, funding, and involving the setting, Grove Park could potentially extend by It consists of a series of green spaces with a variety community. including other green areas in Greenwich borough of characters. The site spreads over a distance of approx. 4.5 and become an Urban National Park. km long and has an area of approx. 7.21 ha. It will The key factor to consider is creating a public The existing green lands are bordered by a railway take one hour to walk across the length of the accessible park with a trail linking the different The green spaces newly opened to the public with Grove Park Station and Elmstead Woods site once the areas are linked by a footpath or a green areas. can and should be included into a wider green Station as the nearby train stations. trail. infrastructure network.
Alexandra Steed URBAN Grove Park Urban National Park Strategy 3 Site boundary
Existing key features Distances n 5 mi
min Railway 5
Railway
Hither Green Cemetery
in in m 5 m 5 Railway Children Forest Garden Nature Reserve
Grove Park Community Group n
i
m
5
Grove Park Station in Grove Park Station m
5
5 min 4.25 km 4.25 km
Chinbrook Meadow Park in m
5
5 m in
5 min in Grove Park Cemetery m 5
Elmstead Wood
Elmstead Wood n in Sundridge Park Course i 5 m
m
5
in Sundridge Park Golf Course m 5
Elmstead Woods Station Elmstead Woods Legend Legend Station Grove Park Urban National Park Proposed Boundary Nature Trail 0.7 km Grove Park Proposed Boundary 0.7 km
Alexandra Steed URBAN 4 Grove Park Urban National Park Strategy Ownership - accessibility and restrictions
Hither Green Cemetery (Lewisham Council)
Restricted access
Grove Park Station
4.25 km
Restricted access
Grove Park Cemetery (Lewisham Council) The biggest constraint in the site represents the restricted accessibility due to ownership. The diagram indicates the green space areas that are not open to the public. Giving the public right of way through these green spaces or opening them completely to the public will help Grove Park to achieve the potential of a regional scale park Legend Sundridge Park Golf Course that could rival other national status parks. Pedestrian footpath By creating a national park within an urban setting, Restricted access Elmstead Woods Station Grove Park could be an outstanding precedent Public for creating an urban national park. Semi public Private 0.7 km
Alexandra Steed URBAN Grove Park Urban National Park Strategy 5 Circulation
Missing access
Broken Footpath Connection
Carriageway conflict
Nature reserve footpath connection
Carriageway conflict
Missing access
Children Railway Forest footpath
Broken Footpath Connection
Legend Missing access Missing connections
Missing access The most important issues regarding connectivity Carriage way conflict that need addressing are the missing accesses, Public Path and broken footpath connections carriageway Missing access Green areas conflicts.
Alexandra Steed URBAN 6 Grove Park Urban National Park Strategy Existing Amenities
Allotments Existing amenities: Willow Woodland
Northbrook Park • Public Parks
Hither Green Cemetery • Sport Fields
Grove Park Nature Reserve Railway Children Forest Garden • Cemeteries
Allotments • Pond field
Street • Allotments Allotments
• Habitats
Chinbrook Meadows Park • Willow woodland
Allotments • Wet Meadow Grove Park Cemetery
• Nature Reserve: Grass Chalkland, Camp Nesbit Outdoor educational site Elmstead Woods
Legend Street Unused green area with potential Sundridge Park Golf Course for recreational programming • Woodland Park Cemetery Woodland Golf Course River / pond
Alexandra Steed URBAN Grove Park Urban National Park Strategy 7 Character areas
Willow Woodland Area Willow Woodland
Meadows
Wet Meadow Pond Fields
Grass Chalklands Nature Reserve Area Ancient Forest
Grassland River Quaggy Meadow Area Wet Meadow
Quaggy River Woodlands
Forest Area
Legend
Site boundary
Woodlands
Alexandra Steed URBAN 8 Grove Park Urban National Park Strategy Existing condition - Willow Woodland
Nature Reserve Meadow
Woodland Pond
Alexandra Steed URBAN Grove Park Urban National Park Strategy 9 Existing condition - Nature Reserve
Pond Area Timber platform over wet area Trail
Event Area Bench
Alexandra Steed URBAN 10 Grove Park Urban National Park Strategy Existing condition - Meadow Area
Chinbrook Meadow Park
Bridge Dry Meadow
Wet Meadow River Quaggy
Chinbrook Meadow Park
Alexandra Steed URBAN Grove Park Urban National Park Strategy 11 Existing condition - Forest Area
Trails Obstacles
Hiking areas Woodland
Elmstead Woods
Alexandra Steed URBAN
Precedents 14 Grove Park Urban National Park Strategy
City of Westminster Hounslow Wandle ValleyKensington and Chelsea Regional Park Trust
Hammersmith and Fulham
Richmond upon Thames
Southwark
Wandsworth Lambeth
Richmond upon Thames
Lewisham
Bromley
Satellite view Small scale allotments next to the river
Merton
Kingston upon Thames
Croydon
Sutton
Nature Trail River Wandle The Wandle Valley Regional Park Trust is part of It consists of ample walking, cycling, fitness and The main green spaces: The Walks, Heritage & the network of green spaces included in London other recreational opportunities. Culture, Wildlife & Natural Environment, King Green Infrastructure Plan. George’s Park, Wandle Meadow Nature Park,
1 0.5 0 1 Miles 3 Kings Pond, Morden Hall Park.
Alexandra Steed URBAN Grove Park Urban National Park Strategy 15 Wandle Valley Regional Park Trust
What makes Wandle Valley Regional Park Trust special is it’s “vision to be a coherent and vital part of London’s green space network. It sets out to create a place rich in heritage, where people are proud to live, work and play, that contributes to the economic vibrancy of South London.” Source: wandlevalleypark.co.uk It focuses on these key aims landscape, culture, health, habitats, people and community. Wandle Valley achieves it’s potential by seizing the opportunity to become an entrepreneurial organisation delivering high quality and sustainable investment in the assets of the Wandle Valley for the long term with 6 key strategy directions:
• Business case & funding • Promotion & Profile • Infrastructure delivery • Alignment and support • Innovation and enterprise • Subregional partnership & governance Artificial Footpaths Meadow habitat Pond
Six key management aims Gateway proposal River habitat
Alexandra Steed URBAN 16 Grove Park Urban National Park Strategy Camley Street Natural Park, Regent’s Canal
215 m
Satellite view Small scale allotments
Nature Trail Crossing wetland area
Camley Natural Park is an urban nature reserve, nested between It is located beside Regent’s Canal. two of London’s busiest railway stations, King’s Cross and St The reserve was created from wasteland. It achieved it’s potential Pancreas. becoming a haven for diverse wildlife.
Alexandra Steed URBAN Grove Park Urban National Park Strategy 17 Camley Street Natural Park, Regent’s Canal
View from Regent’s canal Camley pond
Wetland View from Regent’s canal
Alexandra Steed URBAN Carolina Thread Trail, Seven Oaks Preserve
Crossing woodland area Woodland steps 1.5 km
Entrance welcoming platform Carolina Thread Trail is a 4.48 km natural surface Mountain Biking. The addition of platforms, trail that meanders along the shoreline of Lake elevated paths, bridges make the natural trail Wylie, North Carolina, Unites States of America. The more interesting and easier to cross. trail has different uses: Walking, Hiking, Running, Carolina Thread Trail, Seven Oaks Preserve Carolina Thread Trail, Seven Oaks Preserve
Previews wetland path Current wetland path Bridge Crossing wetland area
Mountain biking Elevated bike track Meandering path floodable area
Landscape Vision 22 Grove Park Urban National Park Strategy Grove Park Green Infrastructure Masterplan
n 5 mi The landscape vision for Grove Park Green Infra- Gateway structure Masterplan is to create a sustainable featuring Allotments transport route footpaths, cycle paths and bridle paths.
n Willow Wetlands Grove Park accommodates 5 mi recreation, fitness, nature and transportation. The urban park needs Equestrian Centre to be safe and convenient for the people in the surrounding neighbourhoods to use it.
Northbrook Pedestrian Bridge To reach these qualities the urban park needs first- Hither Green Cemetery Park ly, to have a seamless footpath connecting impor- in Gateway in m tant accesses, good connections over the railway, 5 m 5 Nature Play a good diversity of green spaces with different uses and programs. Secondly, Lookout Hides Railway Children The urban park will consist of: Forest Garden Grove Park n • Public Parks
i Nature Reserve m
• Sport Fields 5 Gateway • Cemeteries • Pond field in m • Allotments
5 Gateway • Habitats 5 min • Willow woodland • Wet Meadow • Nature Reserve: Grass Chalkland, Camp in Chinbrook Meadows m Nesbit Outdoor educational site 5 Pedestrian Bridge over rail • Woodland 5 m i • Equestrian Centre n • Nature Trail connecting unlinked areas • Nature Play • Cycling Paths • Lookout Hides 5 min • Pedestrian Bridges in Lookout Hide • Gateways m 5 Grove Park Cemetery • Willow Wetland • Climbing and fitness areas By adding these features, Grove Park can be ex- Elmstead Woods perienced as a whole. The seamless transition n in i 5 m through the park gives the park a high value trail
m Footpath trail towards Elmstead
5 experience. Woods Station Black text - existing features Legend in Sundridge Park Golf Course m 5 Red text - new features Streetscape Natural Green Space Park Cemetery Woodland Golf Course Allotments
Alexandra Steed URBAN Grove Park Urban National Park Strategy 23 Grove Park Nature Trail
Trail
Hither Green Cemetery
Grove Park Station Natural Trail
4.25 km
Grove Park Cemetery
Legend Sundridge Park Golf Course
Nature Trail Urban National Park Area Elmstead Woods Station Artificial Trail New Pedestrian/Cycling Paths New Access Points
680 m Creating a seamless trail through the Nature Trail.
Alexandra Steed URBAN 24 Grove Park Urban National Park Strategy Grove Park areas
The urban park can be divided into 4 main areas.
Area 1 - Willow Wetland
1 Willow Wetland Area Allotments, Willow Woodland, Wet Meadow, Equestrian Centre, gateway, wetland attraction, nature observing structure, elevated crossing platforms, Nature Play, wayfinding signage, additional pedestrian bridge, green buffer Nature Reserve Area at the border with the railway corridor, trail 2 connection.
Area 2 - Nature Reserve Nature Reserve, Railway Children Forest Garden, Hither Green Cemetery, lookout hide, fitness area, green buffer at the border with the railway corridor, gateway.
Meadow Area 3 Area 3 - Meadows Chinbrook Meadows Park, Gateway, wayfinding signage, streetscape design, pedestrian bridge over railway, lookout hide.
Area 4 - Forest Elmstead Woods forest, Forest paths, golf park, 4 nature trail, station stepped access. The trail will have interactive features and will be meant for users of all ages. Legend Forest Area
Character Areas Area 1 Area 2 Area 3 Area 4 Black text - existing features Red text - new features
Alexandra Steed URBAN Grove Park Urban National Park Strategy 25 Character sections
Willow Wetland Area Nature Reserve Habitat Education
Wetland Meadow Forest Trail
Alexandra Steed URBAN
Landscape Concept Image Sketches 28 Grove Park Urban National Park Strategy Grove Park - Area 1 Willow Wetland
1
Equestrian Wetland Trail Centre Lookout Hide Green Buffer
Alexandra Steed URBAN Grove Park Urban National Park Strategy 29 Grove Park - Area 2 Nature Reserve
2
Nature Play Gateway Trail Access platform Lookout Hide Green Buffer Pedestrian Bridge
Alexandra Steed URBAN 30 Grove Park Urban National Park Strategy Grove Park - Area 3 Meadows
Trail Green Buffer Lookout Hide Pedestrian Bridge
3
Alexandra Steed URBAN Grove Park Urban National Park Strategy 31 Grove Park - Area 4 Forest
Fitness Area Lookout Hide Trail
4
Alexandra Steed URBAN 32 Grove Park Urban National Park Strategy
Alexandra Steed URBAN Landscape Concept Design Structures and Materials Grove Park Structures
Pedestrian bridge Tree top footpath Crossing wetland area
Lookout Hides Nature observing platform
Adding an active part to the Nature trail with key Nature Play design features Grove Park Structures - Pedestrian Bridge Grove Park Structures - Pedestrian Bridge Grove Park Urban National Park Strategy 37 Lookout Hide Structure
Alexandra Steed URBAN Grove Park Furniture
Integrated natural seating Minimal bench Reflected furniture
Gateway furniture Natural amphitheatre Pond lounge bench Simple bench
Adding key Nature Play furniture and design features Grove Park Gateway
Gateway planter Gateway pavilion sculpture Gateway obelisk
Gateway furniture Gateway canopy Grove Park Wayfinding
Discrete signage Urban furniture wayfinding Nature signage
Colour wayfinding Simple signage post Embedded signage
Adding an active design feature. Grove Park Recreation
Opened space for social fitness activities Nature treadmill
Climbing Natural material fitness bench
Interactive trail with fitness features. 42 Grove Park Urban National Park Strategy Grove Park Equestrian Centre. Bridle Path
Equestrian Centre Bridle Path Horse Riding
Off Trail Horse Riding Pony Riding Bridle Path Cycling
Alexandra Steed URBAN