The next phases of the improvements in Poole Park are opening up, with the area around the water fountain being opened for public access for the first time. Previously an area cordoned off behind bollards and chains, with tired surfacing, no dropped kerbs or crossing points and no designated parking bays around the trees; this area is now newly laid out with wider pedestrian areas, continuous footways for easy crossing points, and defined parking bays parallel to the grass verge. See below for how it used to look and the new arrangement (prior to final completion).The area up through the trees will be used by the bowling club for access and parking, a compromise that ensures the bowls members can safely access the greens. This phase completing also means the re-opening of the normal pedestrian routes at this end of the park around the Bowls club, to the crazy golf and to The Kitchen.
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The Seldown entrance and Westfield car park have been open for a few weeks. The parking bays along the roadside will in time revert to being disabled-only spaces, with the trees to be planted in the large bays in November. The gravel in these areas is not yet in a grid to hold them in place, this will follow once the trees are planted and the works finalised – we apologise for any loose gravel spill-out in the meantime. The buff coloured surfacing (photo 3 below) was laid yesterday, providing a contrast on the pedestrian crossing points.
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Next Phases: Phase 2 through the middle of the park continues with the road being reconstructed either side of the War Memorial. This will lead in to the north side of the current roundabout being worked on to replace the surfaces and install a crossing point. Vehicles will still be able to gain access to the Middle Gate car park and Whitecliff Road. Once the north side is complete, construction will switch to new junction arrangements to the car park and Whitecliff Road entrance. This piece of work will dramatically reduce the quantity of hard surfacing in this area, narrow down the distances required to cross the roads and install continuous footways like already seen at the other end of the park (see main photo above).
One of the most frequent complaints we receive about Poole Park is the condition of the cycle track near to the lakes, where large muddy puddles frequently collect. Work will start at the end of next week to fence this area off so that the contractors can dig an open ditch – or swale – that will collect water that can then be guided to the lakes. Both the freshwater lakes will be lowered in height by removing boards at the outfall to help this work.
Finally, Purbeck stone slabs should be installed next week on feature areas, such as outside Seldown Lodge where the path leads to the original teracotta plaque commemorating the official opening of the park in 1890.
All works are due to complete by the end of September, thank you for your continued patience during these improvements.