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Alexandra Road, Lower Parkstone, Poole
Young people & residents consultation
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2008 |
Courthill School [findings] |
| 2009 | |
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26th May |
Visit to the park [findings], 32 young people aged 5-16 consulted. |
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15th June |
Branksome Heath Middle School Presentation at Assembly followed by lunchtime drop-in session to get initial ideas from those interested. Questionnaires left for distribution to the whole school. |
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17th June |
Branksome Heath Middle School Council meeting to make contact with representatives |
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19th June |
Questionnaires collected - response analysis; second lunchtime drop-in session |
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1st July |
School Council meeting |
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6th July |
Second park visit |
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10th August |
Comments/requests received from local residents since door-to-door leaflet distribution in July |
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13th Aug |
Revisited play area to share initial design ideas [feedback] |
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16th Oct |
Branksome Heath Middle School Assembly with plans for the improved play area |
| 2010 | |
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Feb-March |
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Courthill School consultation Pupils were consulted in connection with the £20,000 Planning Obligations funding to be spent on play facilities for the under 8s at Alexandra Park. 96 children suggested 459 ideas, and the most popular were:
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Tuesday 26th May 2009, 1.30pm – 3.30pm 18 boys aged 6-14 yrs, 14 girls aged 5-16 yrs Comments from 2nd visit, 6th July, incorporated below All the children we spoke to told us that Alexandra Park is the park they visit most due to the fact that they all live within walking distance from it. Whitecliff was named most frequently as their favourite park because of the rope climbing (cone climber), sandpit and buddy swing. The big slide at Poole Park was also popular. Information gathered about the park told us that the football goal is in the wrong place - "the ball rolls for miles" when kicked through. This means that it is rarely used and we were told that a spot the other side of the play park was used predominately for football (it was the only flat area in a hilly park). Popular additions to the area would be:
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Branksome Heath Middle School Questionnaire Responses This consultation asked questions about Alexandra Park, Haskells Recreation Ground & Uppleby Road play areas (all Playbuilder Year 1 sites): By marking out a square mile distance from each of the 3 play areas it became clear that the majority of 8-13 year olds living close to these parks would attend Branksome Heath Middle School. Questionnaires were left for distribution and collected a week later; 192 had been completed. 56% of respondents are female and 44% male. Over 70% of respondents live in the BH12 postcode. The age range (8-12 yrs) breaks down as follows:
Findings: The top 3 parks visited most by pupils were:
Uppleby was named by just 4% of pupils as the park that they visited most. The top 3 favourite place to play were:
8% of pupils named Alexandra Park as their favourite park and only 2% named Uppleby. Question 6 asked the pupils to indicate which activity they prefer while playing:
The remainder of the questionnaire divided to ask pupils specifically about what they would change and/or keep in each park individually. Alexandra Park was the play area that the highest number of pupils made suggestions about how to improve (125 respondents). Things that 8-12 yr olds would like to keep in the park: "I think you should keep this park because lots of people play on it" (F, aged 12) “I prefer to play on trees and in bushes” (M, aged 10) "Great fun for kids of all ages and even kids under 8 love playing there” (F, aged 11) “Maybe older people and younger people should separate” (F, aged 11) F = female M = male The Swings were mentioned the most (by about 25% of pupils) as something the pupils would like to keep. The following list indicates the other things that pupils have expressed a desire to keep. Numbers in brackets indicate the number of times it was mentioned.
Things that 8-12’s would like to change in the park: “It looks tatty and old” (M, aged 12) Despite swings being the piece of equipment that respondents would like to keep in the park they were also most mentioned as something that needed changing (mentioned by 22 respondents). They suggest making them higher and having a variety of types. Other suggestions for change include:
“Get a tube slide that twists all around” (F, aged 12) “I think you should get one of those big climbing things they have at monkey world” (F, aged 12) “Add more equipment for older children such as spinners and roundabouts. Add spinners round the edge of the park. Plant some flowers to make the park look pretty. Have a big see saw for older children” (F, aged 11) “More colourful, brighter, maybe neon colours. That would be awesome!” (F, aged 12) “Put a new rock climbing wall up, put a big tunnel slide and better swings. Big tunnel to crawl through” (M, aged 11) “I think Alexandra Park is a little on the small side, it could do with new or more equipment and the play park could get a little bigger” (F, aged 11) “The slide should be very high for 8-13 year olds and for little kids make the sliding maybe 2 metres. On the grass make goals and make the basketball court bigger. Plus a cricket court” (M, aged 10) The following equipment was mentioned most frequently (more than 5 times:
Other suggestions include:
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Comments/requests received from local residents following door-to-door leaflet distribution
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The summary below was added to the web page in February 2010 when it became clear that there was an unusual level of interest in the consultation process undertaken in and about Alexandra Park. It is a straight copy of a report produced by Borough of Poole Children and Young People's Services in August 2009 and has not been manipulated in any way. Summary of Feedback Session, Alexandra Park Initial designs and product selection Thursday 13th August Comments from:
Female (11 yrs): Loved the bucket swing and zip wire, actually all of it – looks forward to it opening! Male (5 yrs) plus dad – likes the fitness stuff, climbing boulder and basket swing Female x 2 (both 13 yrs): Really liked designs Males x 2 (3 & 5 yrs): Likes bucket swing Males x 2 (13 & 15 yrs) plus mother: Likes zip wire – all of it actually, would change nothing about new designs Males x 4 (all 15 yrs): Really likes it and would use the cone climber and slide. Two have younger sisters (8 & 13) that they thought would love the designs. They stressed the importance of not putting anything on area where the van had parked as used for sports a lot but once shared ideas of rebound wall they thought that would be brilliant. All were using youth shelter so asked about colours for that – orange and blue (or design of mobile van) were the most popular. The parents of those aged 5+ loved the ideas especially the zip wire. Those with children under 5 had several other comments relating to changes for their children. Comments included:
Overall positive response – zip wire and basket swing most popular.
Concern voiced over location of equipment (not wanting
it to be placed on space
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