If you have downloaded the file elements which comprise St Albans District Plan Consultation you will have discovered the wide range of component parts. It is not possible to include a summary for all these within a single post – and in any case no-one would make use of it to assist them in the consultation process, particularly the afternoon/evening sessions which are being held in various locations during September.
Treat this post instead as a series of observations if perusing the Open Space Study which is part of the package. Remember, the Study includes comparisons in all of the districts of the city, although this blog is mainly interested in content forming part of the city's own east end (generally – though not exclusively – the historic parish of St Peter).
We are tempted to focus on the most well-known named open spaces such as Clarence Park. So let's begin there. The Study throughout quantifies the ranges of facilities in each space; if you like, the reason we might give for making a visit; and a limited range of support services, such as signage, bench seats and bins which form the basis of an open space's percentage score compared with other local spaces. Where it is deemed necessary (not only necessarily desirable) toilets are included, as are interpretation and other information panels. But part of the assessment should probably have included the quality of the space's features. Simply listing "toilets" does not help if they do not function to a good standard, are only open part-time or are not welcoming to use. Yes, there maybe useful pathways, but they are less useful if sections are considered trip hazards. A key feature of a park such as Clarence is its ability to foster relaxation, which might include a cafe or snack zone; and while there is certainly a restaurant eatery on the Crown boundary (a facility incidentally considered to be outside of the park even though it makes much use of the grassed space inside, a cafe more at the heart of family activity would place the venue much higher on visitors' satisfaction list, including a location where children can be supervised nearby by their parents. There used to be such a refreshment kiosk many decades ago, but we are now left with a grassed triangle instead, presumably because that was cheaper.
But Clarence Park's quality and quantity provision is much enhanced in other ways – the courts zone is popular and busy, as is the popular Clarence Play children's zone. Even above those the attractiveness of tree cover which the park provides is a welcoming presence whenever visitors are drawn to the Park.
The same or similar criteria appear to be applied to smaller open spaces too. Fleetville Rec these days is referred to as Fleetville Park, even on some maps, while Longacres is called an Open Space, Cunningham has Green Space in its title, while The Wick is just called The Wick, although maps name it Local Nature Reserve, even though a significant area serves the same function as other recreation grounds. William Bell is a Playground, while nearby is Sherwood Recreation Ground. Why do many green spaces have such different descriptions in their titles?
Maybe there is some confusion about their functions, the expectations of their users and therefore the responsibilities of the authorities and any trusts who look after them. Essentially, recreation grounds were created as open spaces for children or adults to breathe fresh air and engage in informal activity. Historically they tended to be equipped only with a set of swings and the occasional cone (witch's hat)! In more recent decades an area of hardstanding with a basketball/netball post and maybe a pair of goalposts may have appeared, or even a full multi-lined court. A soft surfaced playdeck for young children may have been added, or sponsored, while the antithesis of activity space has occasionally arrived in the form of a youth shelter. A store or changing room, and sometimes toilets my be provided but are far from universal. In this feature level of open space the main maintenance issues are related to "unusual wear and tear", or vandalism.
In the Study 'recs', as they are affectionally known, are graded on the same scale as other open spaces, so popularity, facilities and signage are often key to where they appear on the scale, even if that is not appropriate.
What is missing from the Study is the opportunity for any kind of open space, whether park, rough open space, pocket park, lane, footpath or even a forgotten piece of spare land between buildings, to appeal for what it offers towards our well being: calm, contemplation, reading, conversation with a friend or other relaxing use of our time. There are reasons why they are on a list but they should not be graded uniformly with other open spaces for the provision or not of bins, benches and signage.
Next time we'll locate a number of more contemplative green spaces of value to us in our everyday lives. In the meantime look out for them in your wanderings.
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