Rothamsted Park Management Plan

Rothamsted Park was acquired by Harpenden Town Council (HTC) on 30 April 2021 from St Albans City & District Council (SADC). In the 1970’s the Park was transferred to SADC from the then Harpenden Urban District Council, so this acquisition brings ownership of the Park back to Harpenden. The acquisition of the Park does not include the new Leisure Centre, Eric Morecambe Centre or car parks.

The Park is an important recreational space in the Town and is much loved by a range of different users. HTC’s aspiration is to maintain and enhance this Park to high standards and ensure no inappropriate development is taken forward. The Town Council has already delivered a new Play Area within the Park and has aspirations to deliver a range of other improvements in the next 3 years. These improvements will be set out in a new Management Plan for the Park that runs from 2022 to 2025.

We want to get the views of the local community on our initial plans for the Park and are carrying out a community engagement exercise until Friday 3rd December 2021. This document provides high level details on our strategic objectives for the Management Plan and the actions/initiatives that will be delivered to bring those objectives to life.

We are proposing to include the following strategic objectives in the Management Plan:

1. Ensure that the Park is a safe and welcoming place for all users
2. Deliver high standards of park maintenance and cleanliness
3. Enhance biodiversity and make a positive contribution to the environment
4. Improve existing recreational facilities and introduce new ones
5. Promote strong community involvement in the management of the Park

The following actions and initiatives will be delivered to ensure that we achieve these strategic objectives.

Ensure that the Park is a safe and welcoming place for all users

• Improve gateways into the Park
• Remove old signage across the Park and replace with new ones including interpretation boards
• Provide accessible pathways and routes through the Park
• Introduce a network of CCTV cameras to improve safety and address Anti[1]Social Behaviour
• Install a defibrillator at a suitable location
• Review and strengthen the existing park Byelaws
• Undertake regular health & safety inspections across the Park
• Maintain a regular visual presence in the Park

Deliver high standards of park maintenance and cleanliness

• Increase the number and quality of bins in the Park
• Review existing condition and number of benches
• Carry out regular litter picking
• Review the existing tasks carried out by the Grounds Maintenance Contractor and make appropriate changes

Enhance biodiversity and make a positive contribution to the environment

• Proactively manage existing tree stock and identify areas for future planting and woodland regeneration
• Develop options for redirecting and slowing flood surface water in the Park including in the Dell area
• Implement a new approach to dealing with green waste in the Park
• Carry out species surveys and other studies to understand the current biodiversity within the Park
• Identify ways to increase biodiversity and habitats
• Restore and/or create acidic grassland habitat in key areas

Improve existing recreational facilities and introduce new ones

• Maintain the new Play Area to a high standard
• Improve the quality of sports pitches by working in partnership with local sports clubs
• Build a new pavilion for sports and community use to replace existing facilities.
• Build a new 3G pitch in partnership with Harpenden Colts and Harpenden Town FC
• Install a new Trim Trail in an appropriate location
• Improve the Basketball Area by adding appropriate surfacing
• Refurbish the Teen Shelter and introduce a second structure
• Consider new recreational facilities such as a Petanque Court
• Improve the accessibility of the existing Tennis Courts and Multiuse Games Area
• Install table tennis tables adjacent to the Basketball Court and Skate Park

Promote strong community involvement in the management of the Park

• Establish a ‘Friends of Rothamsted Park’ group who will be active in shaping the future of the Park and in helping with the day-to-day management
• Deliver community project days to encourage local people to help manage the Park
• Organise a range of community events directly and support third parties with their own events
• Strengthen existing partnerships with interested groups such as PARC
• Build strong relationships with neighbouring landowners for the benefit of the Park

Complete the survey here

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/YTCHTFN

This survey is open until 3rd December 2021.

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Last updated about 1 year ago