Give your feedback on the plans for Sherwood Avenue Park

We asked…

A survey was developed to gather the views of the public, and key stakeholders, on the proposed development of Sherwood Avenue Park.  All parties consulted were either talked through, or able to read through, the potential areas for development and share their views on these.

The survey was completed 317 times, 260 respondents answered all questions and 57 respondents partially responded. 75% of respondents provided their postcode telling us that 96% of respondents lived in Newark and Sherwood. 

You said about the current park…

When considering what features the new park would have, we asked several questions including two below:

What are the best features of the park?

1. 38% said the trees and green spaces.
2. 21% mentioned the play and skate park.

What are the worst features of the park? 

1. 32% mentioned ASB issues.
2. 30% mentioned that the park needed updating.
3. 5% of respondents mentioned there was not enough for children of different ages.

You said about the development of the park…

The respondents to the survey were overall in support of the potential improvements and developments to the facilities within Sherwood Avenue Park.  Respondents were asked about specific areas of the park:

Children’s play park
76% of responses (241 people) supported the inclusion of an updated children’s play park. 
5% of responses (16 people) did not support it. 
19% (60 people) did not answer this question.

Skatepark
59% of responses (188 people) supported the inclusion of a new skate park. 
21% of responses (67 people) did not support it. 
20% (62 people) did not answer this question.

Community garden / tree orchard
66% of responses (208 people) supported the inclusion of a community garden / tree orchard area. 
15% of responses (48 people) did not support it.
19% (61 people) did not answer this question.

Sensory play / garden area
72% of responses (227 people) supported the inclusion of a sensory play / garden area. 
9% of responses (28 people) did not support it. 
19% (62 people) did not answer this question. 

Additional feedback…

When asked specifically about what they would like to see in an updated children’s play park:

1. 33% of respondents said that the facilities need refreshing and updating.
2. 17% said a separate toddler play area.
3. 13% said to reinstate some splash water park facilities.
4. 13% said a wider variety of equipment.
5. There were 78 comments of concern around ASB.
6. There were 27 comments were in favour of a sensory garden.
7. There were 13 comments around ensuring it is accessible for all users.

Other suggestions included:

1. refresh of current facilities.
2. a wider variety of park equipment for all ages.
3. inclusion of picnic benches.
4. more to help prevent ASB.
5. investment in areas surrounding the park.
6. preservation of greenspace and wildlife habitats.
7. introducing activity days.

What we did…

We took the best bits of the current park that respondents liked to see…

Trees, green spaces, play park and skate park.

We cross referenced that with the respondents’ worst features of the park…

ASB concerns, in need of updating and not enough for children of different ages.

And combined them into plans which:

Enhance the areas respondents like and addressed the areas respondents were concerned about. And then added new additional features suggested from the feedback which would further enhance the space for a variety of different park users.

What our plans do…

Using the feedback from our consultation, our plans have been developed to include:

A Play zone featuring:

1. a new zip-wire (a suggestion that came out from our survey)
2. a splash area with a water rill and water play equipment (suggestions that came out from our survey)
3. a new and refurbished play area including ten pieces of accessible play equipment.

An active zone featuring activities for all ages (a suggestion that came out from our survey):

1. a new skatepark.
2. multi-sports pitch.
3. free-ride area.
4. fitness trail.
5. a spiralling glass staircase.

A welcome area featuring:

1. a range of planting, including meadow-style area and a new avenue of ornamental trees and native species (suggestions that came out from our survey)
2. an area which can also host local, pop-up traders, or local performers and entertainers

A nature zone featuring:

1. a wildflower meadow.
2. the planting of 40 new trees, 250 metres of hedgerow, 5000 bulbs and a fruit bearing orchard complete.
3. a wheelchair friendly path made from recycled materials such as brick, slate, wood and gravel.
4. recycled tree log seating areas (suggestions that came out from our survey)
5. new habitat areas such as log piles, insect houses, bat boxes and hedgehog hides. all included (suggestions that came out from our survey)

New security measures including:

1. the installation of new CCTV camera and improved sight lines into the park
2. gates to the park.

To give your feedback on the plans visit: https://forms.office.com/e/F8pD1RAHTx

To view the drawings giving an indicative view of the proposal, please click on the links below:

Aerial Plan - Sherwood Avenue Park (PDF File, 137kb)

Children's Zone - Sherwood Avenue Park (PDF File, 171kb)

Nature Zone - Sherwood Avenue Park (PDF File, 192kb)

Panorama view - Sherwood Avenue Park (PDF File, 150kb)

Welcome Zone - Sherwood Avenue Park (PDF File, 197kb)

Sherwood Avenue Free Ride Area (PDF File, 162kb)

Fitness Area -Sherwood Avenue Park (PDF File, 167kb)

Residents will be updated on the plans moving forward via the District Council’s social media channels, resident newsletter and website.