Fox Hollies Park Phase Two - Play Area Improvements

Overview

We are about to start Phase Two of the Improvement Works to Fox Hollies Park and need your help to tell us your thoughts and views.

Following our previous consultation with the Friends of Fox Hollies Park and local residents in 2017, on the possible improvements that you would like to see happen to the park, we received over 170 responses to the survey via post and online.

A link to that original consultation can be found below:

https://www.birminghambeheard.org.uk/place/fox-hollies-park-improvement-works/

From the seven categories of potential improvements, which were shown on the master plan layout, we asked you to rank your priorities for the park in order of importance.

We then collated all of the responses that we received back and this has informed how we are approaching the improvement works for Fox Hollies Park. Your priorities were as follows:

1/ Improving Site Security

2/ Review and Improve the Existing Play Provision

3/ Improve and extend the Path Network within the site

4/ Clean up Westley Brook

5/ Vegetation Clearance

6/ Open up the Fishing Pond

7/ Review the Maintenance Regime for the Park

The first phase of works to Fox Hollies Park was completed at the end of 2018 and saw extensive improvements to the boundaries of the park aimed at attempting to increasing park security to combat the issues of dangerous unauthorised motor vehicle use and anti social behavior on the site.

We believe this first phase of works have gone a long way to deal with the historical issues of quad bikes illegally using the site, but realise that the issue may not have been fully resolved.

We would like to hear your further feedback on this:- Has the new fencing and the work to the entrances of the park helped with the problems previously experienced on site or do we need to do more? (You can let us know your thoughts in the Feedback Section of the online survey below.)

Why your views matter

Phase Two of the work to the park are centred around reviewing and improving the play facilities that are on offer for local children and visitors to the area.

There are currently two formal play areas in the park dating back to the early 1990's. The larger of the two is situated on Gospel Lane, near to the pavillion and skate park, it is also served by a public car park, making it easily accessible for visitors coming by car and by disabled users.

The smaller play area is situated on the Shirley Road, close to the Fox Hollies Leisure Centre. It is situated on a slope but is accessible via the park's internal path network and a nearby pedestrian crossing. 

There is also an old BMX course situated in the centre of the park, which is currently underused and there are many natural play opportunites and places for discovery and exploration within the site.

The play areas themselves would really benefit from an update and we will be reviewing the existing play provision and either refurbishing or rationalising the play equipment to provide a better play experience for visitors.

For this reason it would be vey helpful to have an idea of the type of play activities that you would like to have in the park and we have included a number of questions in the following survey, which are centered around discovering your prefered play activities, as well as finding out, which other play areas you currently visit and what it is you like about them.

It is important for us to hear your views on what happens in your local area, in addition the proposed scheme will contribute to the Council’s key priorities:

• Birmingham is a fulfilling city to age well in: through the visible investment and physical improvement of the site increased numbers of residents will be encouraged to participate in healthy recreation and physical activity.
• Birmingham is an aspirational city to grow up in :  through the design improvements, children and young people of all backgrounds and abilities will have the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors in a safer and brighter environment.
• Birmingham is a great city to live in: The proposed improvements to play areas and associated landscape works will encourage more visitors to the park and by deterring vandalism and anti-social behaviour will provide a safer environment for site users.