Citizen magazine Winter 2024 - text version - Ten year plan for our parks and open spaces

Ten year plan for our parks and open spaces 

Green spaces, better places –  why our parks matter so much to us

Our city is blessed with many fine and outstanding green spaces, from the formal parks of Eaton Park, Heigham Park and Waterloo Park to city centre spaces such as Chapelfield Gardens, and the River Wensum corridor. Surrounding us, we have many natural green spaces managed by the Norwich Fringe Project, including Earlham Park Woods, Mousehold Heath and Marston Marsh.

Allotments and community gardens are cultivated by our dedicated allotment gardeners. Play areas are enjoyed by countless children every year, come rain or shine.

These spaces matter to local people and add so much value to our communities and contribute towards making us a fine city.

Our Green Flag Awards tell us we are doing well and the many volunteers that work in these green spaces also tell us how important they are. But we cannot rest on our laurels, and we need to look ahead as to how we continue to manage these valuable green assets.

Our communities have told us that our parks and open spaces are highly valued. This year, we have been working on our first parks and green spaces strategy which proposes how we develop and maintain all our parks and open spaces for the next ten years. In October, the council’s cabinet agreed the draft strategy and we are very keen to hear from our residents and stakeholders about what this vision should be.

We have outlined a bold vision and action plan for the next decade to ensure our parks and green spaces are protected, managed and enhanced for people and wildlife now and for many years to come.

To comment on the strategy, look out for further updates on the council’s website, in local community centres, libraries and elsewhere across the city.