Waverly Park Play Area, Riverside, Stirling
The refurbishment of Waverley Park was completed in June 2005. Ten years before that, the area underwent radical redesign, including the removal of the central football pitch and its replacement by a 5 a side pitch adjacent to the redesigned play area. The original refurbishment was the very first such project to be paid for through a housing developer's cash contribution, and as such served as an important example and case study.
This is the only play area serving the whole of the growing Riverside population and is an important neighbourhood facility. It's well used by a wide age range of children, young people and carers. It is also used by the nearby primary school, nursery, playgroup and out of school care project, and is a popular site for Play Services play in the park sessions.
The current project costs of nearly £50,000 were net through contributions from three different housing developers. Various complications relating to the funding delayed the implementation of the project and though consultation started in summer 2003 construction didn't start till April 2005.
The project design was the result of collaboration between Judi Legg, Play Space Designer and Mike Hyatt Landscape Architect. The brief for the design was put together slowly and was drawn from a number of sources including Judi's long term observation and experience of the park as the mother of two young children; consultation at a 'play in the park' session in August 2003 with more than 60 park users (including children); detailed discussion with Riverside Nursery and Playgroup and with Riverside Out of School Care Project. The contractors, Landcare Solutions, were able to work flexibly and creatively with the site and with the local residents.
Children from Riverside Primary School were involved in some of the tree planting which is an important feature of the design. This was supported by staff from Forth Environment Link, from the Play Services Playgrounds Team, and from Landcare Solutions (the contractors). More than 60 children were involved, and as well as the tree planting itself, these sessions included environmental games, explanations and discussions about the value of the trees to the site to wildlife and to people, the reasons for choosing native species, and how they could best help to look after the trees and ensure their survival.
The design sought to incorporate the priorities identified by users, which were to extend the sand play area, to introduce more challenging climbing opportunities, to introduce an 'inclusive' swing and to introduce shade and windbreaks. Mounds, boulders, logs and bridges, reeds and trees were introduced incorporating the existing equipment (which has all been refurbished), to create an interesting and challenging play landscape on this formerly flat and exposed site. During the very rainy construction period, the mud was greatly enjoyed with sponsored mud fights occurring as part of Comic Relief. This resulted in requests from a group of mothers to keep a mud area - which has been done.
Conversation and debate continued with some nearby residents overlooking the park (many of whom were grandparents with childcare responsibilities for their grandchildren) who were concerned about the danger posed by boulders, and fear that the planting would impede visibility. One year on, they were all enthusiastic supporters of the park, and testify to children's increased use of and greater engagement with the space.
A further 10k is now available for this site, and decisions about how to spend it will be based on the observation and evaluation that took place during Summer 2006.
