Future Spring Gardens
Public engagement activities in the summer and autumn of 2023 highlighted the need for Spring Gardens open space to offer more for the community. Nearly 100 of you responded, coming along to pop up events and answering an online survey! You told us you want more facilities and opportunities for play, physical activity, relaxation, connection with nature and a space for community activities. The attached engagement report outlines the detailed results of this engagement.
As a green open space of just under one hectare in a densely populated area of town, with low levels of green open space, the park has so much potential and needs to do a lot more to serve the needs of the diverse local community- essential for health and well-being and community cohesion.
We currently have a small pot of money that we are hoping to increase by applying for grant funding. The plan is to phase works as further funding becomes available, working to an overall plan that we will develop further with residents in some workshops this summer.
Some initial improvement works are planned for this year! These include some improvements to the grass/ surface so that it is even enough for informal sports and recreation (spring 2024); a new path around the perimeter with some seating areas and benches (summer 2024) and some hedge, blossom tree and wildflower planting to the edges (autumn 2024).
Spring Gardens open space is still owned by SBC but is currently managed by South Swindon Parish Council who we are liaising with on this project. It is hoped that they will take on the management of the park once we have delivered the improvements.