What we heard: Reflections from our Knowledge Sharing Event
Following the launch of our new research on accessibility in parks for different ethnicities, we brought people together to share their experiences and ideas for what should happen next.
The workshop created space for honest conversations about how parks are used.
What surprised people
One of the strongest reactions was just how much the research resonated with people's lived experience. Many attendees recognised the barriers described.
Dogs and responsible dog ownership emerged as a bigger issue than many expected. For some, dog mess and behaviour can make parks feel unusable, particularly for exercise, children’s play and informal sport. It raised important questions about how shared spaces are managed and who feels able to use them.
Safety was another key theme. Women in particular spoke about feeling unsafe when walking or running, especially in parks with poor lighting or limited visibility. While design changes like improved sightlines were seen as important, attendees also highlighted the tension between safety and maintaining natural, biodiverse spaces.
More broadly, people reflected on how parks don’t always meet the needs of a wide range of users. A lack of seating, toilets and inclusive facilities can quietly exclude many people, while limited maintenance and funding continue to affect the quality and accessibility of spaces.
A more complex picture of access
The discussions highlighted that accessibility isn’t just about physical access, it’s about how people feel in a space.
Attendees spoke about the importance of:
- Feeling safe and welcome
- Having spaces that reflect different needs and uses
- Opportunities to connect socially and with nature
- A sense of belonging in local parks
There was also a clear recognition that improving access often involves trade-offs. For example, increasing lighting or visibility may impact wildlife habitats, while creating different zones within parks could help balance competing needs but could lead to further segregation.
What should we do next?
A key priority was better facilities, especially more toilets, seating and spaces that support different groups.
There was also strong support for increased infrastructure, investment and maintenance.
Just as importantly, attendees emphasised the need to work with communities. This includes:
- Involving a wider range of people in decision-making
- Supporting volunteers, community groups and schools to host activities and learn about nature in parks
- Creating more free events and activities to bring people into parks
- Building partnerships with organisations and underrepresented groups
Looking ahead
What came through clearly is that there’s no single solution. Making parks more accessible means thinking holistically and balancing competing needs between safety and nature, shared and separate spaces, and different ways people use parks.
But there was also optimism. The workshop showed a strong appetite for change, and a willingness to work collaboratively to make parks more inclusive for everyone.
These insights will help shape our next steps as we continue working with partners and communities across Bristol to improve access to green space.
