Parks and Open Spaces Strategy 2003 - 2008 Prepared By: Parks & Countryside Service And Groundwork West London Dec 2002 Parks And Open Spaces Strategy Chapter 1 – Summary 1 SUMMARY............................................................................................................................................6 1.1 BACKGROUND ..................................................................................................................................6 2 STRATEGY AIMS & OBJECTIVES .................................................................................................8 2.1 OBJECTIVES......................................................................................................................................8 3 STRATEGY PROCESS........................................................................................................................9 3.1 RESEARCH AND INFORMATION GATHERING......................................................................................9 3.1.1 Desk Study ...............................................................................................................................9 3.1.2 Site Audit .................................................................................................................................9 3.1.3 Public Consultation .................................................................................................................9 3.2 ANALYSIS.......................................................................................................................................11 3.2.1 Generic ..................................................................................................................................11 3.2.2 Site Specific ...........................................................................................................................11 3.3 RECOMMENDATIONS ......................................................................................................................11 4 PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS...................................................................................................................12 4.1 RESULTS OF GROUNDWORK CONSULTATION .................................................................................12 4.1.1 Background............................................................................................................................12 4.1.2 Results ...................................................................................................................................12 4.1.3 Where respondents live..........................................................................................................13 4.1.4 How often do people go to a London Borough of Ealing Park..............................................13 4.1.5 How do people get to Ealing Parks? .....................................................................................13 4.1.6 Why do people visit Ealing Parks?........................................................................................13 4.1.7 What are people’s favourite things in Ealing Parks?............................................................13 4.2 SPORTS USER SURVEY – UNDERTAKEN BY ACTIVE EALING...........................................................14 4.2.1 Bowling clubs / Players .........................................................................................................15 4.2.2 Football Players ....................................................................................................................15 4.2.3 Cricket Players ......................................................................................................................15 4.3 SUMMARY OF TALKBACK 2000 RESIDENTS PANEL SURVEY JULY 2001........................................16 4.4 SUMMARY OF TALKBACK 2000 RESIDENTS PANEL SURVEY SEPTEMBER 2001.............................17 4.4.1 Consideration of TalkBack 2000 Summary ...........................................................................18 4.5 ESTIMATED NUMBER OF VISITORS TO PARKS..................................................................................19 5 EALING’S PARKS TODAY: THE FINDINGS...............................................................................21 5.1 OVERVIEW .....................................................................................................................................21 5.2 THE ‘HIERARCHY OF EALING’ PARKS ............................................................................................21 5.3 THE RANGE OF PARKS & AREAS OF DEFICIENCIES ..........................................................................23 5.3.1 Metropolitan Parks................................................................................................................23 5.3.2 District Parks.........................................................................................................................23 5.3.3 Local Parks............................................................................................................................24 5.3.4 Town Centres.........................................................................................................................25 5.4 PARKS AND OPEN SPACES AUDIT...................................................................................................25 5.4.1 Results ...................................................................................................................................26 Average scores across all parks ......................................................................................................................... 26 Average scores by contract area......................................................................................................................... 30 Average scores by park type .............................................................................................................................. 33 5.4.2 Recommendations..................................................................................................................36 5.4.3 Parks with potential for a Green Flag Park Award ..............................................................37 5.5 PLAY AREA AUDIT AND ANALYSIS ................................................................................................38 5.5.1 The importance of playgrounds.............................................................................................38 5.5.2 Background to audit ..............................................................................................................39 5.5.3 National Playing Fields Association (NPFA) Standards.......................................................40 5.5.4 Safety Standards ....................................................................................................................40 5.5.5 Playground audits .................................................................................................................42 Playground performance by contract area.......................................................................................................... 42 Playground performance by park type ............................................................................................................... 42 Playground trends .............................................................................................................................................. 43 - 2 - Parks And Open Spaces Strategy Chapter 1 – Summary Recommendations.............................................................................................................................................. 43 5.6 SPORTS FACILITY AUDIT AND ANALYSIS.........................................................................................44 5.6.1 Background to audit and user survey ....................................................................................45 5.6.2 User Survey ...........................................................................................................................45 5.6.3 Analysis of site audits ............................................................................................................46 Athletics............................................................................................................................................................. 47 Bowls................................................................................................................................................................. 47 Cricket ............................................................................................................................................................... 48 Football.............................................................................................................................................................. 48 Multi-sport ......................................................................................................................................................... 48 Rugby ................................................................................................................................................................ 49 Tennis ................................................................................................................................................................ 49 Roller-skating/blading ......................................................................................................................................