Typical Design Issues Print

​​Some of the typical issues that arise in sport and active recreation environments include:

  • Conflicts with dog walkers
  • Conflicts between spectators and recreational path users
  • Poor quality club buildings (maintenance and other issues)
  • Limited covered areas – reduces usability through winter months
  • Stormwater treatment issues – lack of consideration of 'green' solutions particularly around car parking areas
  • Lack of integration with natural landscape features
  • Often not located near movement networks, including public transport.

TROUBLESHOOTING RECOMMENDATIONS:

  • Wet and muddy playing fields preventing play
    • Understand the soil and water systems on the site and provide adequate drainage for fields. Consider using artificial surfacing or sand carpeting.
  • Insufficient car parking provided
    • Understand the park's current and expected level of use year round, as well as the nearby public transport links, and the ability for parking to be provided in the adjacent street network. Ensure designs consider the amount of parking that is needed and the capacity for the existing parking provision in the area to meet that need. Where necessary, parking facilities should be sensitively incorporated into the park design, and reinforced grass areas could be used to accommodate overflow during peak use. ​
  • Insufficient lighting 
    • Assess the level of lighting required to support sport or active use, particularly in evenings through the winter months. Ensure that facilities such as car parking, public transport waiting areas, toilets and club facilities, are adequately lit to support the legitimate night time use of the park.
  • Significant noise issues affecting neighbours
    • Vegetated earth mounds and solid fences can be used to reduce noise travelling into adjacent areas. Where possible, locate any particularly noisy sporting activities away from boundaries with surrounding residents.
  • Apparent privatisation of space (e.g. fenced artificial turf)
    • Use welcoming entrance signage that clearly indicates who is able to use the turf and when. Keep access and sightlines to facilities clear, to indicate that this is a public space to be enjoyed by everyone.
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