Ward Park Improvement Scheme
Update from Public Engagement Session
Thank you to those who took the time to attend the Public Engagement session on 20th April and for completing the survey and sharing your thoughts.
We have now collated all the responses and key themes have emerged. Council have worked through these and the key themes will be incorporated into the project.
The first phase work in the Park is now complete. As part of this phase, Fisheries Biologist David Kelly undertook the sensitive task of temporarily relocating the Park's eels and you can watch the fascinating video below.
Background
Ward Park is a 37-acre urban park in the City of Bangor. Originally the site of a brickworks, it was designed by Cheal's Nurseries in 1909 and gifted to the people of Bangor by the Ward family. The Park is owned and managed by Ards and North Down Borough Council. It provides a key 'green lung' in what is otherwise a built-up urban environment, the Park being surrounded by residential properties, a hospital, schools, a college, a public library and sports facilities and enclosed on three sides by roads.
One of the Park's main attractions is that it is well-wooded with different varieties of mature, semi-mature and young trees including popular large willows. It is accessible to all ages and widely used by children going to and from school, by dog walkers, by families attending the play park and feeding the ducks, by residents and visitors enjoying free summer events, by sports groups including Park Run and NDCC and by many who simply want to enjoy some fresh air in beautiful surroundings.
£5.5M Environmental Improvement Scheme
Ward Park is one of our Borough's most attractive assets, popular with residents and visitors of all ages. The Environmental Improvement Scheme aspires to largely retain the traditional landscape and recreational benefits of the Park, while sympathetically creating a modern park environment that will enhance biodiversity and help safeguard the Park for future generations. Preserving and enhancing the Edwardian history of the Park is key to all involved.
The scheme aims to:
- Improve the current pond structure.
- Provide a modern approach to the management of wildfowl and waterfowl.
- Retain historical Edwardian features, while improving the built environment/ infrastructure.
- Create educational and play opportunities.
- Promote biodiversity.
- Help safeguard the Park for future generations.
The scheme also aims to resolve the problem of silt build-up in the ponds and to mitigate against this recurring. Desilting (or dredging) of the ponds is the first phase of work for the scheme.
Works were due to begin on desilting in November 2023, but due to the heavy rainfall experienced in the period leading up to this, the works were delayed until the new year. The work would take approximately 8 weeks to complete. An essential prerequisite to the desilting was the sensitive and safe relocation of the eels (and sticklebacks) who live in the ponds. David Kelly, is a Fisheries Biologist and Director at Paul Johnston Associates Ltd, the company contracted to undertake this unique piece of work . David and his wife carried out the works and you can find out more in the fascinating video below:
Following the completion of the desilting works, we are progressing the other elements of the Environmental Improvement Scheme. It is currently anticipated that major works will begin in the winter of 2025.
Four key improvements will take place by the end of March 2025. These four key requests came from members of the public attending the April Public Information Session and from completed surveys:
* A Secure Cycle Rack - a popular request. Council wants to supply a design that is both functional and secure so options are being reviewed and when agreed, it will be located near the new Play Park - more below on this.
* Basketball Hoop - there was a lot of demand for this so it will be included as a feature in the new Play Park.
* An Orchard - there is scope to plant a small orchard in the Park, as well as including fruit trees in the new Dementia Friendly/Sensory garden - more details below.
* Tennis Courts - another area of great discussion. Council now has budget to repair four of the six tennis courts and this will be completed by the end of March 2025.
At the April session, attendees were asked their opinion on moving the current Play Park from outside the Library to the tennis court area of the Park.
The consensus was to move the Play Park so a new, larger Play Park (with basketball provision) will be created with an investment of £250k.
In the space left by the Play Park outside the Library, a new Dementia Friendly/Sensory garden will be created. Working with the relevant agencies and groups, the aim is to create a garden full of sensory planting for people affected by dementia or with educational needs. Included will be a water feature, sculptures, seating areas, wide accessible pathways and of course a variety of plants including fruit trees, as mentioned above. This will be completed by the end of March 2025.
We will continue to provide updates through this page and our usual media channels. There will also be more information sessions in advance of the works, where you will have the opportunity to engage with the Council team delivering the project.
For more information see the FAQs section below or email andparks@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk
You can also keep up to date on the scheme, share your memories and thoughts on Ward Park, as well as upload photos on our new engagement platform here: Public participation platform of Ards and North Down Borough Council | CitizenLab
We hope you continue to enjoy the Park over the coming months.
Frequently asked questions
What are the aims of the Environmental Improvement Scheme?
The Ward Park Environmental Improvement Scheme aims to:
• Improve the current pond structure.
• Provide a modern approach to the management of wildfowl and waterfowl.
• Retain historical Edwardian features, while improving the built environment/
infrastructure.
• Create educational and play opportunities.
• Promote biodiversity.
• Help safeguard the Park for future generations.
What does the Scheme involve?
As set out in the Planning Application (LA06/2016/1108/F) this scheme will deliver environmental improvements to the park that will enhance biodiversity and help safeguard the park for future generations. This includes:
• removal of sediment from ponds
• enlargement of the upper pond and island
• introduction of aquatic planting to pond edges
• repair work to walls at pond edge and provision of new coping stones
• upgrade of the footpath network
• installation of a boardwalk and decking to the ponds
• replacement of two existing pedestrian bridges
• upgrade of the existing inlet structure
• replacement and refurbishment of the existing bird enclosures
• new signage, seating, picnic benches, lighting, landscaping and planting.
What is the value of the Scheme and how is it being funded?
This improvement scheme is being funded directly by Council and has a cost of over £5.5 million.
When was Planning Approval Secured?
Planning approval was secured in April 2021. The scheme was first presented to the public in 2015, with events held in that year and 2016. Three letters of objection were received over the period before the final approval. There were no objections from statutory bodies.
When will work start on site?
The first phase of the improvement scheme will be the desilting of the pond network (see more details below). Works on the desilting commenced in January 2023. The park will remain open with any disturbance kept to a minimum. Works on the other elements of the scheme are anticipated to commence in winter 2024/25.
What is pond desilting?
Desilting (or dredging) is the removal of silt, sediment and other materials that have built up over time from the ponds. Desilting decreases the possibility of flooding and will improve the environment for wildlife including fish, birds and insects. As part of the improvement scheme, a more effective silt trap will be introduced at the upstream end of the ponds to prevent, or significantly reduce, future siltation. These works will restore the ponds to their original capacity and condition and will create a more positive outcome for wildlife and ecological biodiversity and activity.
How do I find out more?
If you wish to contact the Parks Team please do so via the e-mail: andparks@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk or ring us on 0300 013 3333.
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