Ambitious plans for Nene Park revealed

Nene Park Master Plan aims to reach out to build communities,

A new masterplan has been unveiled to redevelop and expand Peterborough’s much-loved Nene Park. Park bosses have identified 15 key projects which they hope will come to fruition over the next 30 years. They include expanding the park boundaries, new play and heritage areas, and more commercial activities with the aim of promoting culture and a healthy lifestyle for city residents. The report does warn that the plans depend on securing funding for the ambitious schemes and calls on a citywide effort to make the vision a reality.

Ambitious plans have been unveiled to transform Peterborough’s historic Nene Park.

The goal is to extend the park’s reach right across the city promoting healthy lifestyles, building communities and celebrating culture.

Fifteen key projects have been listed by the Nene Park Trust as it seeks to cope with a multitude of challenges and opportunities over the next 32 years.

However, bosses warn that funding the proposals could be a challenge.

Alongside its aspirations, the Master Plan details a host of new attractions for the park.

These range from “wild swimming” in Gunwade Lake, more routes to walk with new things to discover to make more use of the park’s heritage from the Nene Valley Railway to its ancient monuments and Roman remains.

Action to improve indoor and outdoor play areas, develop the park’s wildlife and offering more opportunities and facilities for volunteers to work in the park, enhance skills development and grow commercial activities at the park are included in the Master Plan.

The plan also identifies ways of celebrating culture, arts and heritage, and to boost health and skills.

It states: “We see an enormous opportunity to improve the health of our community by working with new and existing partners to develop play, outdoor activities, sport and recreation in the Park.”

“We will find opportunities to develop skills, outreach and learning, both through our own education programmes and those supported by partners - and through a much greater involvement by the community in projects, and investing further in volunteering.”

However, the plan’s starting point is the growing number of visitors to the park each year, and the expectation this will increase as more houses are built in and around the city.

The park’s popularity is a mixed blessing.

The plan warns of the tensions created when large numbers of people with different interests converge to enjoy their leisure time.

It highlights reports of “conflicts between uses such as dog walking, recreation, commuting and relaxation”.

The plan also worries about the cost of repairing the wear and tear on its 22 kilometres of pathways, grassland, bridges, roads and car parks caused by the high footfall through the park.

However, park bosses are also aware that while visitor numbers are higher than ever - 1,718,00 people enjoyed the park in 2015 - access is still difficult for non-car owners from the north of the city.

They say some people in the far reaches of the city have not heard of Ferry Meadows, which makes up some 500 acres of the 1,725 acre Nene Park.

In a bid to ensure people do not miss out, the Master Plan proposes taking the park to the people with the use of a ‘park outreach’ initiative.

If successful, the plan will result in the most far-reaching changes in the park’s 40 years history.

Writing in the report, chief executive Matthew Bradbury states: “We plan to improve existing parkland at Ferry Meadows, Thorpe Meadows and the

‘The proposals in this Master Plan will only go forward when funding has been secured.’ Matthew Bradbury

Sailing outside the new Lakeside Centre in Ferry Meadows.