27th May

PHP Fun Day, Waterloo Community Centre

25 young people aged 7-14 consulted [findings]

11th June

Hillbourne School Council meeting

Process agreed and Questionnaires emailed to the school for the own adaptation and distribution to 8-13 yr olds, and collation by the School Council.  We were invited back on Thursday 25th June for an update and then will return at the end of term to look at Leisure Services proposals.  They would like to be involved in the process from now until the launch.

A letter was sent home with all pupils advising the date of the 1st park visit.

22nd June

First visit to the play area [findings]

25th June

School Council meeting - update & feedback from representatives [findings]

9th July

School Council meeting - prioritisation & ranking

10th August

No comments/requests received from local residents since door-to-door leaflet distribution in July

Follow-up:

14th Aug

Revisited play area to share information and progress

8th Oct

Hillbourne School Council with plans for the improved play area

Hillbourne School Council will help plan site visits by pupils during installation, and help with Playbuilder Year 2 consultations.

Findings from the Fun Day

Wednesday 27th May 2009

12 boys aged 7-14 yrs, 13 girls aged 9-13 yrs

The majority of children who spoke to us told us that Gough Crescent is the park that they visit the most due to the fact that they all live within walking distance from it.

The following parks were mentioned as favourites:

• Corfe Mullen Park (excellent range of equipment / zip wire / skate jumps)
• Hamworthy Park (loads of stuff)
• Gough Crescent (because it's close)

There was a strong feeling that this park needed a complete overhaul for all ages and several parents felt very strongly that not only does the equipment for ages 8-13 need replacing but facilities for under 8’s and also for teenagers. 

Concern was expressed about the older teenagers misusing the equipment and maintenance issues raised. Those in the 8-13 age range talked about bullying experienced within the park and expressed fear of playing there. However, although most felt it needs improvement the preference is for small basic equipment, or the existing equipment to be re-painted. Most of the young people want to keep the swings but want them made so the older teenagers could not throw them over the top bar.

With encouragement the following ideas were suggested (most liked the idea of metal rather than wooden equipment):

• More swings / tyre swings / rope swings / buddy swings
• Climbing Equipment
• Zip wire
• Varying height monkey bars
• Bigger / wider / longer slide
• Exercise equipment
• Seating / shade
• Bigger faster roundabout
• Bike ramps

• Stuff outside fenced area

Findings from the play area visit

Monday 22nd June 2009

14 boys aged 6-14 yrs, 7 girls aged 7-10 yrs

• Repaint it all
• More benches in different colours
• Shaded areas
• Higher monkey bars
• Climbing frame with ropes
• Nicer grass
• Volley ball net
• Bigger roundabout
• Climbing wall (like one in Boscombe)
• Bike ramps (spread around open space)
• Football goals (not too near play stuff)
• Zip wire
• Obstacle course
• Bucket swing
• Sandpit
• Spinner
• Paddling pool
• Skate ramps
• Higher swings
• Musical instruments
• Bigger slide
• Tyre Swing
• Place to chain bikes up
• Rugby Pitch
• Tunnels

• Running track

• Big climbing unit (ref Whitecliff)

• Low adventure trail (ref St George’s)

• Children would like to do some artwork for the fence panels (school project/competition?)

• Litter bin needed in the play area (Mum’s bring drinks & snacks)

• Suggest markings/games on the tarmac & wetpour – such as road markings for bikes as they have a school

• Cllr Les Burden suggests some goal posts & benches opposite the play area, and picnic tables in fenced area. Also requests patterns to break up areas of wetpour, etc.

• Basket Swing/Tyre Swing

• Keep the same number of swings (4 + 2) even if other swings (basket swing, tyre swing) added

• Cone Climber

• Dolphin Springy (ref Hamworthy Park)

• High spinner

• Spinning Bowl & ‘Elements’ mini castle (ref Blandford St Mary’s – Kompan site)

• Wood, not metal preferred (epileptic child uses the space, has hurt herself in the past)

• Self-closing gate requested

• Existing roundabout too slow & stiff, please replace

• Additional entrance with self-closing gate requested, at opposite end of the fence

• Unexplained slabs of concrete randomly placed around the grassed are – hazard, children tripping over when running around, please remove

• Cricket strip opposite play area

• Boys play football in the space just inside the existing gate – make it more kick-about friendly?  Boys say they like to kick-about inside the fenced area because they are with other friends on the swings, etc.  Goal posts opposite would be good for older boys, or for a proper game

• 17/18 yr olds have reportedly started using the Rec again (moved on from the local shops)

At all venues we had asked the same questions:

What is your favourite park, and why?

What is the park you visit most, and why?

What would you like to keep in Gough Crescent Park?

What would you like to add / change?

At our meeting with Hillbourne school on 11th June they proposed a few changes to the draft questionnaire and consultation was led by the school council.

We returned on 25th June when the council presented their findings, which included we keep but update the swings & slide, and add:

At a third meeting on 9th July we facilitated a session to develop key priorities from the initial consultation.

In small groups they were asked to go through the report and draw out the 3 main additions to the park.

These were shared and a common 6 were agreed; the council then participated in a matrix ranking process to prioritise them:

1. Variety of swings (a pod swing and tyre swing)

2. Litter bins

3. Roundabout

4. Zip wire

5. Football goals

6. Basketball net

It was suggested items 5 and 6 could be combined into a rebound wall, positioned outside the fenced area, on the opposite side of the footpath.

• Nicer grass is not included above but is something the school council would like.

The pupils then designed how these pieces of equipment would fit within Gough Crescent play area and developed the wording of thanks for the signs at the park.

Pupils agreed to be involved in Year 2 consultations about the other parks near the school.