A new Park Access Plan for Eastville Park
Eastville Park is taking an important step towards becoming a more accessible and welcoming space for Disabled people and unpaid carers.
Through workshops, discussions and visits to Eastville Park, partners identified the things that currently make visiting the park inaccessible, as well as the opportunities to make the park more inclusive.
This project has been made possible by Bristol City Council and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Co-designed with the community
Working alongside local people and community partners, we have developed a Park Access Plan for Eastville Park. The plan has been shaped by 16 Disabled people and unpaid carers, bringing together a wide range of lived experiences and ideas about what would make a real difference when visiting and enjoying the park.
Eastville Park is already a much-loved green space, with its lake, woodlands, meadows, play areas, sports facilities and links to the wider Frome Valley. The aim is to build on these strengths and make it easier for more people to enjoy everything the park has to offer.
Their priorities
The Plan has a range of priorities to improve accessibility as well as how Disabled people and unpaid carers can use the park for community, to enjoy nature and for health.
Some of the top priorities include:
- Increasing Blue Badge parking.
- Improve entrances, gates and improve surfaces on paths to and around the park and lake.
- Improve the toilets at the park.
- Provide clear, accessible noticeboards and signage about the park and its facilities.
- Create more inclusive spaces through sensory planting, accessible play and community activities.
Why this matters
We know parks are vital for health, wellbeing and connection – but not everyone can access them equally. By starting with the priorities that matter most, this plan will ensure Eastville Park becomes a space that feels truly open to all.
And the work doesn’t stop here. The lessons learned from Eastville Park will also shape a toolkit that other communities can use to make their own green spaces more inclusive.
What happens next
We will work with Bristol City Council and local community stakeholders to begin implementing the priorities chosen by the 16 Disabled people and unpaid carers.
Some changes can happen quickly, while others will take more time and investment. But thanks to the determination of local residents and community partners, the path to a more inclusive Eastville Park is now set.
We’ll be sharing updates as progress is made, and there will be plenty of opportunities to get involved – whether through volunteering, sharing ideas or supporting the changes as they happen.
If you can help us, please get in touch.
