Park management models
Community-managed parks
Nick Ockenden and Keith Pimm, Spaces&Places, April 2005
The future's bright, the future's green
A new park management model
Alan Barber, Spaces&Places, December 2004
A partnership for parks
Working together for the benefit of allMary Worrall, Spaces&Places, October 2005
Public-private partnerships
How community groups can work with the corporate sector
Becky Volker, Spaces&Places, April 2004
Case studies:
Community group management
Adopt-a-Plot
Bradlaugh Fields Project
Bexley Heritage Trust
Culpeper Garden Project
Exhibition and Brandling Parks Trust
Independent trust management of urban green space
Public park managed by an open spaces trust
Community group management
Adopt-a-Plot
Partners:
Site name:
Location:
Description:
Contact:
Site name:
Location:
Description:
Contact:
Newcastle City Council
City-wide
Newcastle-upon-Tyne
The Parks and Countryside Service gave residents an opportunity to care for green spaces outside of their houses themselves as part of the ‘Greener, Cleaner City’ campaign. Local residents present their ideas to a local Adopt-a-Plot officer, and then, once approved, work can begin on the site. Photographs are taken before and after, and each plot is reviewed annually. There were initial problems concerning multiple ownership of some green spaces, between the parks department, highways and housing. As a result a formal license was drawn up by the council’s legal department and the scheme now runs very smoothly.
Anthony McKenna (Parks Manager) T: 0191 211 6254
City-wide
Newcastle-upon-Tyne
The Parks and Countryside Service gave residents an opportunity to care for green spaces outside of their houses themselves as part of the ‘Greener, Cleaner City’ campaign. Local residents present their ideas to a local Adopt-a-Plot officer, and then, once approved, work can begin on the site. Photographs are taken before and after, and each plot is reviewed annually. There were initial problems concerning multiple ownership of some green spaces, between the parks department, highways and housing. As a result a formal license was drawn up by the council’s legal department and the scheme now runs very smoothly.
Anthony McKenna (Parks Manager) T: 0191 211 6254
Bradlaugh Fields Project
Partners:
Site name:
Location:
Description:
Contact:
Site name:
Location:
Description:
Contact:
Northampton BC
Bradlaugh Fields
Northampton
Northampton BC acquired the Bradlaugh Fields through a Section 106 agreement. The development of the site has led to the creation of a conservation and community approach to the management of the site. There has been an ongoing programme for community consultation, and currently two community groups manage the site for the local community. Other partnerships with local organisations have led to effective conservation improvements and opportunities for community activities.
Alan Adkinson (Head of Outdoor Environment)
T: 01604 233500 ext. 4469
Bradlaugh Fields
Northampton
Northampton BC acquired the Bradlaugh Fields through a Section 106 agreement. The development of the site has led to the creation of a conservation and community approach to the management of the site. There has been an ongoing programme for community consultation, and currently two community groups manage the site for the local community. Other partnerships with local organisations have led to effective conservation improvements and opportunities for community activities.
Alan Adkinson (Head of Outdoor Environment)
T: 01604 233500 ext. 4469
Bexley Heritage Trust
Partners:
Site name:
Location:
Description:
Contact:
Site name:
Location:
Description:
Contact:
Bexley Heritage Trust; Bexley Council
Hall Place House
Bexley, Kent
This is a limited company, which is aiming for charitable status. The Heritage Trust was set up in 2000 and is supported by a network of volunteers and friends groups. The Trust has taken over care and management of Hall Place House (attracting 250,000 visitors to the site annually) from Bexley Council. The Council redirects funding to the Trust via a Management Agreement between them and the Trust based on the Trust’s business plan and results of their annual reviews. This has resulted in general revenue savings as well as providing opportunities to lever in additional funding, reinvesting surplus capital. Hall Place has been awarded Green Flag status since 1997.
Colin Cannon T: 020 8303 7777
Hall Place House
Bexley, Kent
This is a limited company, which is aiming for charitable status. The Heritage Trust was set up in 2000 and is supported by a network of volunteers and friends groups. The Trust has taken over care and management of Hall Place House (attracting 250,000 visitors to the site annually) from Bexley Council. The Council redirects funding to the Trust via a Management Agreement between them and the Trust based on the Trust’s business plan and results of their annual reviews. This has resulted in general revenue savings as well as providing opportunities to lever in additional funding, reinvesting surplus capital. Hall Place has been awarded Green Flag status since 1997.
Colin Cannon T: 020 8303 7777
Culpeper Garden Project
Partners:
Site name:
Location:
Description:
Site name:
Location:
Description:
Culpeper Community Garden Trust
Culpeper Community Garden
Islington, North London
The derelict land was leased to the trust by the council when the project was set up in 1982. They are closely linked to the Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens and approximately 150 volunteers are involved. The main aims of the project was to create an outdoor educational activity and play resource for under-privileged children, particularly focusing on the problem of excluded children. This is a highly socially and environmentally inclusive project, embracing and empowering people from all walks of life.
Culpeper Community Garden
Islington, North London
The derelict land was leased to the trust by the council when the project was set up in 1982. They are closely linked to the Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens and approximately 150 volunteers are involved. The main aims of the project was to create an outdoor educational activity and play resource for under-privileged children, particularly focusing on the problem of excluded children. This is a highly socially and environmentally inclusive project, embracing and empowering people from all walks of life.
Exhibition and Brandling Parks Trust
Partners:
Site name:
Location:
Description:
Contact:
Site name:
Location:
Description:
Contact:
Exhibition and Brandling Parks Trust; Newcastle City Council
Exhibition and Brandling Parks
Newcastle-upon-Tyne
A community-based management initiative for Exhibition and Brandling Parks in Newcastle-upon-Tyne is currently taking place as a result of a process started by the City Council in 1998. A Community Trust has been created with the aim of establishing a solid foundation for community participation in the much-needed regeneration of the park to bring it back to the centre of social and civic life of the city. This demonstrates a highly successful partnership between Newcastle City Council, the Trust, and many others, demonstrating new forms of voluntary and private initiatives with public sector provision.
Anthony McKenna (Parks Manager) T: 0191 211 6254
Exhibition and Brandling Parks
Newcastle-upon-Tyne
A community-based management initiative for Exhibition and Brandling Parks in Newcastle-upon-Tyne is currently taking place as a result of a process started by the City Council in 1998. A Community Trust has been created with the aim of establishing a solid foundation for community participation in the much-needed regeneration of the park to bring it back to the centre of social and civic life of the city. This demonstrates a highly successful partnership between Newcastle City Council, the Trust, and many others, demonstrating new forms of voluntary and private initiatives with public sector provision.
Anthony McKenna (Parks Manager) T: 0191 211 6254
Independent trust management of urban green space
Partners:
Site name:
Location:
Description:
Contact:
Site name:
Location:
Description:
Contact:
Bankside Open Spaces Trust
Various
North Southwark, London
The Bankside Open Spaces Trust is a not-for-profit organisation, which provides support and inspiration for local communities to improve and sustain the green space of north-west Southwark in south London. Acting as an umbrella group, it has overseen successes with thirteen gardens and parks throughout the community, providing an example of how dedicated staff can enthuse and develop the community on a limited budget.
Helen Firminger (Director)
Various
North Southwark, London
The Bankside Open Spaces Trust is a not-for-profit organisation, which provides support and inspiration for local communities to improve and sustain the green space of north-west Southwark in south London. Acting as an umbrella group, it has overseen successes with thirteen gardens and parks throughout the community, providing an example of how dedicated staff can enthuse and develop the community on a limited budget.
Helen Firminger (Director)
Public park managed by an open spaces trust
Partners:
Site name:
Location:
Description:
Contact:
Site name:
Location:
Description:
Contact:
Doncaster MBC
Glass Park
Doncaster
Glass Park was opened in 1999 on a site originally owned by Pilkington Glass PLC. The site is now managed by the Glass Park Millennium Green Trust, which has a board of 20 trustees. The trust has successfully formed a business arm, the Glass Park Development Company, employing two development workers with the intention of raising funds for future development of the park. These two workers are self-supporting as a result of the funds they have raised. Strong political and council support have enabled the project to progress, and the park now attracts around 35,000 visitors a year, and between 200-400 for individual events.
B Russell (Senior Officer, Community Parks) T: 01302 735 147
Glass Park
Doncaster
Glass Park was opened in 1999 on a site originally owned by Pilkington Glass PLC. The site is now managed by the Glass Park Millennium Green Trust, which has a board of 20 trustees. The trust has successfully formed a business arm, the Glass Park Development Company, employing two development workers with the intention of raising funds for future development of the park. These two workers are self-supporting as a result of the funds they have raised. Strong political and council support have enabled the project to progress, and the park now attracts around 35,000 visitors a year, and between 200-400 for individual events.
B Russell (Senior Officer, Community Parks) T: 01302 735 147