FAQ
Originally, the concept design for the park was consulted upon as part of the Pontio development, but this was never seen through to delivery. In the summer of 2021, the University picked-up those original designs and re-commissioned the landscape architect to update plans for today’s opportunities and needs. These plans and the vision of opening-up the park for all, was presented to the City Council and to the Transforming Towns Group, and a proposal was then made to the Welsh Government for funding. The initiative received wholehearted support and a consultation day was held in December to explain the concept and ideas.
Without doubt, feedback on the plans thus far has been hugely supportive and the enthusiasm is palatable and inspiring.
Further engagement on aspects of the park will continue through the various design stages, including on the nature zone, the skateboarding area, the climbing wall and how the new feature road or ‘boulevard’ could be utilised in the future.
Yes! The enthusiasm of the local skateboarding community has been inspirational, and we are looking to engage further to develop a valuable and welcoming area for skateboarders.
Though, it is appreciated that the park will not be home to a major skatepark, it can nevertheless provide an interesting and challenging skateboarding facility that can be enjoyed by the most experienced boarder, as well as by the novice.
The Caban will be moved from its current location next to Pontio, and the space will be re-designed as a small performance area and mini amphitheatre. This location provides much opportunity for showcasing artistic and performance talent and it is envisaged that the new use will be appreciated by many.
The University will then look to the future location of Caban, further information on this unique structure will be shared further down the line.
The ideas are still developing. The area will include child friendly interactive furniture and a traversing climbing wall. The active area seeks to engage the mind as well as the body and should provide a synergy to the talent on show at Pontio and across the road at Storiel.
There will also be a marked Trim Trail in the park and the design team will soon be seeking ideas and inspiration from our local fell and off-road runners in the design.
Though the topography of the site makes top/bottom transition difficult, physical accessibility from Love Lane, across the top of the park, and across the lower level of the park from Pontio to the new entrance, has been designed to allow use for all. We will be looking to improve the visual and sensory aspects of the park and seeking to ensure that people with health conditions, mobility issues, hearing and sight impairments can all equally enjoy the park.
The schemes will be further enhanced over the coming months and liaison with key specialist advisers and others will occur to ensure we have an accessible, usable and positive park that can be accessed by all in our community.
Reports of incidents within the park are extremely rare but there is certainly a feeling of insecurity and unease at times, especially in poor light.
Most important to the park’s success is developing a feeling that it is a safe place to visit, this will be helped through thinning the wood and undergrowth, improving lighting and opening up the park. The most important part of making the park a safe space to be will be its use by the community. The more people who go to the park the safer it should feel.
The architects will be working on ideas and suggestions shared by interested parties and seeking to make the park a safe place for women and girls, minorities and everyone to visit. The design will also take into account guidance from the police.
No, the park will be open all day and night and with the Iron Railings removed will be open for all to use. Lighting will remain on the main pathways and CCTV will cover many areas of the park, with artificial lighting kept away from the nature areas.
Yes, the designers will currently consider the equality impact as part of their Design Risk Assessment, and nearer the middle of the phasing the first iteration of the operational Equality Impact Assessment will be produced. This can then be enhanced and developed as the park develops.
The Equality Impact Assessment will be augmented by the generic risk assessment, which will consider the safe use and maintenance of the park.
As part of the University’s Sustainability strategy, we are committed to achieving our well-being goals as set out in the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act, with an immediate focus on dedicating a greater proportion of our land to the natural environment, as set out in our sustainability strategy commitment.
Pedestrian and cyclist safety on Love Lane is indeed a concern. The possibility of a more direct footpath within the park, from the soon to be re-opened Love Lane pathway down to the new entrance on Deiniol Road, was investigated. However, we found that the topography and dense vegetation by the side of and against the high retaining wall, together with the need to excavate next to the wall and across tree roots, made it impractical to proceed. The advantages of having a path here are clear, but it is just not practical to create a formal path and staircase(s) as part of this scheme.
The issue of pedestrian safety along Love Lane is known to Gwynedd Council, who published a detailed options evaluation paper in January 2013. We will pass on any feedback or concerns regarding Love Lane onto Gwynedd Council.