Bristol and Bath-based charity, Your Park Bristol & Bath, celebrates its fifth anniversary by launching an ambitious 12-month campaign. The goal? To reimagine the cities’ parks and green spaces, addressing barriers that prevent around a third of the local population from fully enjoying them.

Inclusive Design Challenges

Your Park Bristol & Bath highlights that most of the 580 parks and green spaces in both cities lack inclusive design. This deficiency disproportionately affects Disabled individuals, carers, women and girls, minority ethnic groups, and low-income residents.

Three Key Barriers

The charity identifies three key factors hindering park access:

1. Physical Accessibility: Many parks lack features like wheelchair-friendly paths and accessible toilets.
2. Personal Safety: Clear sight lines and safety measures are essential for everyone, especially women and girls.
3. Mental Wellbeing: Access to nature significantly impacts mental health, yet limited green space availability contributes to psychiatric disorders.

The Reimagining Parks Campaign

Launched on May 9, the Reimagining Parks campaign aims to revolutionise park accessibility. The vision? Every Bristol and Bath resident should have a park within a ten-minute reach of their home, workplace, or study location. Achieving this involves:

• Ensuring physical accessibility for Disabled individuals and their carers.
• Designing parks with women’s safety and enjoyment in mind.
• Using parks to support people with mental health issues.

Fundraising and Targets

The campaign kicks off with a six-week £30k fundraising challenge. Aviva will match all donations during this period. Beyond initial funding, the charity hopes to secure additional support to achieve its targets.

Charlee Bennett, Chief Executive of YPBB, Speaks Out

“Parks are nature-rich, free community assets that benefit mental and physical health. Unfortunately, they’ve historically been designed narrowly, excluding many. Our campaign isn’t just about changing landscapes; it’s about fostering inclusivity, safety, and wellbeing.”

Key Targets for the Year

1. Exemplar Parks: Creating fully accessible parks in both Bristol and Bath to accommodate all physical disabilities and differences.
2. Community Activities: Developing accessible and enjoyable activities (such as sensory walks, play sessions, family events, and accessible gardening) in every neighbourhood to support 2,000 people.
3. Female-Focused Redesign: Having one park in each city redesigned by a woman, emphasising safety and introducing female-focused activities and facilities.

Expanding the Roots to Wellbeing GP-referral program for people with mental health issues to two new areas.

Your Park Bristol & Bath’s commitment to transforming green spaces reflects its determination to create positive change.