Community ideas sought to enhance Bristol parks

People of Bristol are being asked for their views on how the city’s parks could be improved – and money-making ideas that could be introduced.

The council has launched a new project that aims to both enhance green spaces to help boost health and wellbeing and generate more income to invest back into maintaining them for future generations to enjoy.

Under the Bristol Future Parks initiative, new attractions such as bike hubs, splash parks, cafes, lakeside activities and treetop adventures could be built within the city’s parks.

The council has stated this is not about selling off much-loved green spaces but exploring new commercial opportunities, from which it says local communities could benefit.

The first phase of the project is inviting people and organisations to submit proposals on how to enhance five parks and green spaces: Blaise Castle Estate, Chaplin Road Green Space in Easton, Dame Emily Park in Bedminster, Eastville Park and Sea Mills Recreation Ground.

Blaise Castle Estate is one of five parks that people can submit proposals for – photo by Bristol Design

Ellie King, Labour’s cabinet member for public health, communities and Bristol One City, said: “The pandemic demonstrated how important parks and green spaces are for the health and wellbeing of everyone in our city. It’s now more important than ever that we rethink how our parks are managed, funded and maintained so that everyone benefits from our green spaces.

“Bristol Future Parks is one of the many ways we’re working to meet our One City Ecological Emergency Strategy goals by 2030. We are working in partnership with communities, city organisations and businesses to help create a nature-rich city with excellent quality parks and green spaces. I therefore encourage everyone to get involved by going to the Bristol Future Parks website and tell us how you want your parks to be used.”

Bristol Future Parks aims “to transform how parks and green spaces are run, in response to their increased use during the pandemic”. The project will also examine how green spaces can help the city address the climate and ecological emergencies.

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Read more: Bristol declares ecological emergency 

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Secretary of the Bristol Parks Forum Rob Acton-Campbell added: “At a time when local authority finances are under increasing pressure, it’s vital we look at every option to bring in more funds to ensure our parks are maintained to a high standard. I welcome the Bristol Future Parks project as a way of delivering this aim.

“As a member of the assessment panel, I look forward to reading community ideas to develop their green space for the benefit of local residents and visitors. I encourage communities to think about the additional facilities, activities or events they want to see in their park and submit these ideas via the new Bristol Future Parks website.”

Individuals, groups and businesses can submit their ideas via an expression of interest proposal through the Bristol Future Parks website from October 25 to December 31.

Proposals will be assessed by the parks service and an external representative from the Parks Forum, who will recommend the best ones to move forward.

Jonathan James, the council’s head of service for natural and marine environment, said the council is also developing a new Parks and Green Spaces Strategy, which will set out a “20-year plan to nurture nature-rich, attractive and enjoyable green spaces in every part of Bristol”.

Main photo by Martin Booth

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