Friendly Parks for All proposal for Cambridge Gardens, Twickenham

Overview

As part of Richmond Council’s continued commitment to improve our parks and open spaces, the Parks Team are developing Cambridge Gardens as a Friendly Park for All.

We have worked with Mencap to come up with proposed improvements to Cambridge Gardens that would make the gardens more accessible for those with disabilities.

The proposed changes include:

• An outdoor gym
• A sensory / community garden
• Three boat sculptures at main entrances / exits

The Council propose that the equipment installed will be a mix of items that are suitable for both those who have disabilities and other users. The gym will be situated in the red box in the map above.

It is proposed that the equipment will include a mixture of static and moving items, which have been discussed with Mencap to provide options for all users. These items have not yet been finalised and we would like to hear your suggestions though this consultation. Examples of the type of equipment we are considering include the following and you can look at example images here.

• Arm and pedal bike
• Double skier
• Triple step
• Seated leg press
• Multi-purpose fitness frame
• Spinning bike
• Lat pull and chest press combo
• Tai chi spinner (wheelchair accessible)

The sensory / community growing garden is proposed to be in the orange box on the map above. It will include raised beds that are accessible for those who are less mobile. It is hoped once installed the beds will be looked after by Mencap,  however we would encourage wider community participation. The beds will be a mixture of plants and flowers to invigorate the senses and food growing which is an activity that can be enjoyed by all.

The boat sculptures proposed would be small upright boats at three of the main entrances/exits. These sculptures will be installed as in other Friendly Parks for All, to mark where entrances and exits, which is helpful for people who get disoriented such as people with dementia. The easily recognisable entrances encourage them to leave the park the way they entered. In this park the boats will also indicate that there is a public space, as feedback from Mencap showed that they thought that the park was a private garden.

Why are we consulting?

The purpose of this consultation is to gauge public support for the proposed new outdoor fitness space and sensory / community garden in Cambridge Gardens.

As there is currently no Friends Group for the site, we would also like to find out whether respondents would like to be a part of a Friends Group for Cambridge Gardens. Habitats and Heritage (who manage all Council Friends Groups) will contact those who register their interest through the consultation. For more information on what a Friends Group is and what they do, please visit the Habitats and Heritage website here.

What is the Friendly Parks for All project?

The Friendly Parks for All project supports multi-sensory visitor experiences in Richmond Parks through:

• Encouraging more use of parks and open space in the borough
• Working with partners to help improve the quality of everyone’s experience of parks
• Increasing the number and diversity of people inspired by and enjoying them
• Better understanding the issues, barriers and priorities of residents to help improve engagement in parks

As part of this project to make local parks more accessible, Barnes Green, Ham Village Green and Heathfield Recreation Ground, Carlisle Park and Kneller Gardens have been included in the Friendly Parks for All project to date.

For more information on Friendly Parks for All, please visit the webpage here.

Have your say

We are seeking the views of local residents and those with disabilities about the proposals. Please give us your feedback by clicking on the online survey link below.

If you require a paper copy of the questionnaire or have any other queries, please contact the Parks Team at Parks@richmond.gov.uk or on 020 8891 1411.

What happens next

As part of the next stage we are looking to develop a design for our parks and open spaces that will ensure that more people, especially those with disability, will feel welcome and supported in their visit.

All feedback will be carefully considered to inform the design and trialled in Cambridge Gardens, Twickenham in 2023-24, and any learning will be incorporated into the programme of the future Friendly Parks for All project design.