Accessibility
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The Friends of Riverside Park initial aim was to safeguard the area known as Riverside Park Newhaven and the adjacent Lewes Road recreation ground as public open space for future generations, working with the owners of the site to manage the area for biodiversity and public recreation.
Moving forward our vision for the area would be to maintain the Park as a community space with the emphasis on ¬Åaccess for all¬. This is currently being achieved by the Management Plan which has been designed to improve the natural habitat of the area and provide a level, circular path so that the whole community can enjoy the delights of the Park.
Riverside Park is one of the few remaining level open public recreational spaces in Newhaven, under minimal management and not reserved as a sports ground, that is open to all residents. The two existing recreation and sports grounds are on the southern edge of the community, at some distance from the Valley Road area. It is close to the Valley Ponds area, which is a well-known and well-loved area of informal grassland and small lakes in the midst of the Valley. Riverside Park is adjacent to and within the immediate setting of the South Downs National Park, providing a natural buffer on the boundary of the town and the National Park.
Enhancement for users
We want to encourage users of all ages and abilities to enjoy the natural surroundings to improve overall health and wellbeing by the provision of improved, and a greater selection, of play equipment for all ages. At our initial consultation with the community, users suggested extending the existing children's play area on the recreation ground and provide a better selection of equipment, suitable for all age groups and to include an outdoor gym.
Provision of toilet facilities during community events to be held on the Rec and Park would encourage better participation. Free use of the existing hut during events would help not only us but encourage people to visit the Community Garden.
Better Access and New Paths to Walk
Access for all is important to us and we are pleased that the new circular path built with S106 moneys is now finished. We feel that a made up path from the Lewes Road along the north western edge of the recreation ground would further assist, with simple steps cut into the slope for users to access the upper area of the Park. We have now installed 2 extra dog bins on the Park for the many dog users to dispose of their bags in. Opening up of the old ¬Åtip site¬ would further enable push chairs, mobility scooters and wheelchairs to access the Park from this side.
To provide areas on the wider Park for time to sit and relax and take in the wildlife. The S106 moneys have provided for a number of seats, benches and picnic benches and an extra litter bin. Friends of Riverside Park regularly organise community litter picks at weekends, and would be willing to volunteer a rota system to assist with emptying litter bins for collection by the Waste Team at the District Council.
Expanding the vision
We envisage opening up the drainage ditches which are currently overgrown to encourage a pond effect, with a bridge or walkway from the furthest end of an extended children's play area across the ¬Åditch/pond¬ to give access on to the upper parts of the Park.
Access and enjoyment of our natural wildlife
Our vision of providing a nature walk in the future includes a boardwalk on the northern part where the marshland area is and to connect the northern part where the bird hide has been installed to meet up with the Egrets Way path.
As part of the S106 spend two cortens steel sculptures have been installed. We feel a notice board including a map at the entrance showing where the different habitat areas are, noting in particular the circular walk, board walk, bird hide, hibernacula etc would enhance the enjoyment of users.
Linking both ends of the Egret's Way - Reaching out
Going into the future we would envisage a ¬Åcommunity hub¬ similar to the Linklater Pavilion in Lewes where local schools and youth groups could visit for ¬Ånature trips¬. We are already aware that there are a number of Geocache sites and that the local Scouting Group use the Park for orienteering. Other groups, such as birdwatchers and other wildlife groups from a much wider area of Sussex, already value Riverside Park for the haven it provides for many species of birds, animals and plants.
Threats to our vision
There is enormous pressure to find homes for local people. This pressure is opening all open spaces in public ownership to the potential threat of development. At the same time, the benefits of informal recreation, to the health and physical and mental well-being of all sections of community, is well established, and is clearly of value to all residents, irrespective of where they live. Residents of the areas most attractive to the developers should not be condemned to losing their open spaces as a consequence of being inadvertent targets for housing, or inappropriate development for private gain.
Strength of our vision
Newhaven has a history of having to fight for those things it values, things which in other communities are seen as their right. From its experience over the years, it has learnt that nothing will be automatically granted without struggle and reaction from residents. Against a background of efforts to build a swimming pool, (finally built by public subscription from this community) and campaigns to reopen our West Beach, or resist an incinerator, this community knows that anything it values has to be fought for, even if those fights are not always successful.
This is a much used and much appreciated open area, and the community will expect us to fight for this as well. We believe we have the good will of our community behind us, and the devolution of public amenity to local communities can only work in our favour.
We are:
Friends of Riverside Park, a group of friends, volunteers and local residents who are committed to enhancing Riverside Park in line with this vision, and campaigning to protect this area from opportunistic development, so that it can be enjoyed by all residents as minimally managed open space.
The group came together in response to an attempt to exploit this public area for inappropriate private gain. We will do all we can as private individuals who help to maintain the area on a voluntary basis, to resist any other attempts to exploit this public space for private profit, while working to enhance this land for cost-free public enjoyment.
Please contact the organisation for information
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