We asked, you said, we did

As part of our ongoing work to improve and enhance our green spaces, we're investing £1.3million in our borough's parks. So far, through our Community Parks Programme we have delivered a range of improvement works including footpath resurfacing, playground makeovers and the installation of outdoor gyms in eight green spaces across the borough.

We asked for your say on exciting plans to: 

• create a brand new playground on Fairfield Recreation Ground
• transform Green Lane playground 
• create two brand new outdoor gyms at Churchfields Recreation Ground (Chessington) and Latchmere Recreation Ground (North Kingston and Kingston).

Green Lane Recreation Playground

• You need age-specific play areas, a zip wire, monkey bars, and play areas for older children. 
• Need for more options for younger children, such as a sandpit, smaller climbing equipment, and an area designed exclusively for toddlers.
• You would like new equipment. Suggestions for features like a themed wooden play structure (train or car), splash pads, and large rocks for creative play and sitting.
• Obstacle courses and trampolines are popular elements that attract kids of all ages.
• Borrowing libraries in both children’s and youth zones would provide quieter options for families.
• You would like benches and shaded areas to make the space more welcoming for families.
• Paths around the perimeter of the park would benefit runners, walkers, and wheelchair users.

Fairfield Recreation Playground

• Traditional swings are widely regarded as essential and are missing from the proposal.
• Baby swings, in particular, are vital for younger children and new parents.
• The design appears to cater primarily to older children (3+), with minimal options for toddlers or non-walkers.
• Wheelchair-accessible equipment, such as a roundabout, is missing.
• A fenced area to protect children from dogs is deemed essential.
• Sufficient seating for supervising adults, including benches and picnic tables, is needed.
• Shade for summer and proper drainage to avoid water pooling are also key concerns.

Churchfields Recreation

• We will proceed with installing the new gym as per the original design, without modifications. We appreciate the concerns raised regarding ongoing maintenance and want to reassure residents that a comprehensive inspection and maintenance plan will be implemented to ensure the site remains in excellent condition. Your feedback has been heard, and while the design will remain unchanged, we are committed to upholding the quality and longevity of the facility.

Latchmere Recreation Ground

• There is  a preference for natural-looking, understated designs over brightly colored structures.
• The general sentiment toward the proposed gym is positive, with many welcoming the additions as a way to promote fitness for both adults and children. However, several respondents emphasised the need for more inclusive equipment, particularly for older adults, people with mobility challenges, and disabled users. Suggestions include balance beams, a "Dizzy" balance board, a high perching bench, and parallel bars that cater to diverse abilities.

Green Lane Recreation Playground

• A 25 metre zip wire is included within the original design, monkey bars are included, a number of items for older children are located in a new area adjacent to the existing play area.
• Due to space limitation and the desire to include numerous features it is not possible to install an exclusive toddler area, however a section of the site is designed to cater for pre-school age children.
• Unfortunately splash pads are out of the scope of the current project. However, the Giraffe Play offers an inclusive play experience for younger children.
• Due to the number of requests a trampoline has now been included within the design. 
• Installation of an obstacle course would require a separate project, however the design does include some elements of obstacles, such as climbing and clambering.
• Borrowing libraries are out of scope of this project at the current time, however we will discuss options with colleagues in the library service.
• New seating will be provided as part of the scheme.
• Two new footpath sections have recently been installed around the perimeter of the site to improve accessibility.
• The overall sentiment toward the proposed improvements to Green Lane Recreation Ground were positive, with the community appreciating efforts to update outdated equipment and introduce features like a youth zone and zip wire. We recognise the call for inclusivity in play options to cater to children of all ages and abilities. We consider that within the context and limitations of this Play Improvement Project that play options which cater for a wide range of children have been included.

Fairfield Recreation Playground

• We have included a traditional 2 bay, one toddler, one flat seat swing by removing the mini basket swing.
• The design has aimed to cater for 3 - 8 year old age group primarily who can access the equipment unaided. Overall the design is suitable for use in an unsupervised, open access public locality.
• There is not enough space within the site to permit the installation of an inclusive roundabout, without reducing the overall play value of the site.
• Aspects of the design such as the multi play unit can accommodate children of all abilities.
• The area will be fully fenced with self closing gates to prevent uncontrolled dog access.
• Seating will be provided within the play area.
• Shaded areas are provided by the mature trees which border the site. Natural grassed areas have been retained within the site, which can have a cooling effect.

Churchfields Recreation

• We will proceed with installing the new gym as per the original design, without modifications. We appreciate the concerns raised regarding ongoing maintenance and want to reassure residents that a comprehensive inspection and maintenance plan will be implemented to ensure the site remains in excellent condition. Your feedback has been heard, and while the design will remain unchanged, we are committed to upholding the quality and longevity of the facility.

Latchmere Recreation Ground

• The colour of the equipment will be green rather than blue to blend in with the surroundings better.
• We have been able to make some changes to the equipment to improve inclusivity. These include the addition of a cross trainer, skier, standing bike and a perch bench.

Part 1 Engagement (May-June 2024)

• What do you think of the draft priorities for the strategy? 

• What is working well in Kingston for autistic people and people with ADHD and what can we do better?

Part 2 Engagement (September- October 2024)

• We shared the draft strategy and asked for people’s feedback on it.

Over 240 people shared their views across the engagement. Below is a summary of some of the key themes. A Full Engagement Report is also available.

You said:

1. We want to see action from the strategy and make sure this is monitored. 

2. Your top priority was: ‘We will be given the right support at the right time, including diagnosis.’ There are long waiting times for a diagnosis of Autism or ADHD which is not good and support is also needed for people who are waiting.

3. Practical support is needed. eg. with form filling, housing, bills or benefits.

4. Mental health issues were a common theme in the engagement. 

5. Training and awareness around neurodivergent conditions need to be improved.  

6. It was clear that everyone’s experience of being autistic or having ADHD was different.

7. Better support for families. Also, some people are worried about what will happen to their adult children who are autistic/ have ADHD when they are no longer around to support them. 

8. It would be good to have a more child-friendly strategy. 

9. The full strategy has too much text. More pictures or infographics are needed.

We used your feedback to help shape the Kingston All Age Autism and ADHD Strategy 2025–2030.  Below is a summary of the key themes that emerged. A full “You Said, We Did” report is available, along with an Easy Read version to ensure the information is accessible to everyone.

• The strategy includes an ‘Action Planning’ section. These actions were informed by the feedback from our survey and from talking to people. The strategy also includes a list of ways in which we will measure our progress. 

• The action plan focuses on 5 areas of diagnosis and support.

• A key reason to have a strategy is to bring together local organisations and the wider community to raise awareness of neurodiversity. 

• Key principles are included in the strategy to make sure that people have a consistent and good experience of services including accessibility and reasonable adjustments.

• We held a focus group with Experts by Experience and the Communications Team about graphic design. There will also be a summary version of the strategy which is more visual. 

What next? 

• The Kingston All Age Autism and ADHD Strategy will launch in Spring 2025. It will be on Kingston Council’s website.

• Partners from the Autism and ADHD Partnership Board are working together on action plans to make the strategy happen over the next 5 years.

What do you think of the plans for a shared use pedestrian and cycle path in Canbury Gardens?

Over 130 people responded to the survey. Those in favour of the trial commented: 

• Existing cycle route is in a poor condition 

• Conflict already exists between pedestrians and cyclists accessing the riverside

• Lack of clarity and signage 

• Support for rewilding and improving the path beside the river and pedestrianising this

Some respondents expressed concern about the trial. The comments raised included:  

• Concern about potential increase in conflict between pedestrians and cyclists and particular concern about the impact of the trail shared use path on blind and partially sighted people, wheelchair users, children, dogs, elderly and less mobile people. 

• Prefer to have segregated paths for pedestrians and cyclists.

• Prefer cycling to be banned from Canbury Gardens altogether and for cyclists to use Lower Ham Road. 

• Concern about the speed of cyclists using the trial shared path.

As part of the engagement and in response to the feedback received we've taken a number of steps to address many of the issues raised:

• Held a site meeting with representatives of local groups for people with visual impairments to discuss the proposal and what could be done to address their concerns. We will hold regular meetings together during the trial in order to capture any additional works that may be needed. 

• Added more tactile  paving to the plan at entrance points and meeting points with other internal pathways.

• Updated the plan to include additional signage to support the trial scheme, that will encourage cyclists to slow down as they enter the shared use area.

• Updated the plan to include encouraging those who wish to cycle via a faster route to be encouraged to use Lower Ham Road as an alternative.

This updated plan was taken to Kingston and North Kingston Neighbourhood Committee on 28 November 2023 and approved for a 1 year trial. Weather permitting work will being on site to install the trial shared pathway from 22 January 2024.  We will open a new survey to collect your feedback from using the shared pathway once it is in place.