Bristol asked for ideas on improving green spaces

Community-led ideas for enhancing parks and green spaces to help improve health and wellbeing in Bristol are being sought through the new Future Parks project.

In response to increased park use during the pandemic, the Bristol Future Parks scheme is aiming to transform how parks and green spaces are run, and how they can help the city address the climate and ecological emergencies declared by the Council last year.

The project is also considering ideas that could help generate income from which parks and their visitors could benefit, including commercial opportunities such as bike hubs, splash parks, cafes, lakeside activities and tree top adventures.

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

Cllr Ellie King, 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.’

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

In related news, Stockport Council is calling for residents to have their say on what they would like to see in a new park being built at the heart of Stockport town centre.

Photo by Wayne Jackson