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