Connect people to the park and to each other.
Create convenient and safe connections with the surrounding cycle, walking and public transport networks which are easy to access and navigate. Make the park accessible for those with mobility and sensory impairments, where practical. Carefully plan the layout and clustering of facilities, so that people can meet, socialise, and spend time together in the park.
Ensure pedestrian priority and create connections
Provide adequate walking paths, shelter and seating to promote greater pedestrian use and enjoyment of our sports parks. Priority should always be given to pedestrians and cyclists over cars and buses. This is particularly important for creating safe and easy movement networks which are suitable for children and the elderly.
Sports parks are characterised by large influxes of users when games are being played, and after school hours, therefore the design should be able to accommodate peak-time use.
Designs can create successful movement networks by:
- establishing a path network hierarchy, and providing a wider primary path that connects to all major use areas
- exploring existing walkway and cycleway networks that surround the site and identifying opportunities to link in to these networks through the park
- identifying areas where people may gather, and providing amenities such as drinking fountains and seats where people need them
- Providing easy and safe connections to surrounding transportation networks.