The Central Park

Central Park will offer a new contemporary civic space creating a new parkland environment that will be as iconic as the Kelpies and Sentinels.

 

The design takes its inspiration in developing the broad aspirations raised within consultations about renaissance and people and place transformation. Adopting the ideas of landscape as art and exploring within design embedded themes such as prospect, productive landscapes, heuristic devices and reflected images.

 

A pair of large reflective pools sets the framework for a new landscape structure. These define a primary north–south pedestrian route, a hierarchy of activity areas, woodland enclosure through established woodland framing, and a series of distinctive new spaces that are bold, very legible and multifunctional. Pedestrian networks connect Central Park with all parts of The HELIX, making Central Park the heart of the community.

The bold form of the design believes the functional and operational needs that it addresses with the northern reflective pool providing for:

• sustainable urban drainage for the gateway that needs to address the predevelopment surface water run-off rate of 8.83i/s/ha
• biodiversity interests in developing an educational/outdoor class room in habitat development and management
• HELIX site surface water management, attenuation and treatment

The southern reflective pool offers a treated water and clean water facility aimed at more recreational use allowing for a range of activity from model boating, demonstration watersports and potentially 'have-a-go' supervised water based activity.

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(Select image for a larger view.)

 

The design treatment of the two ponds differs with provision for water treatment for the southern pond whilst the northern pond uses biological treatment (reed beds/ aquatic planting/water management) to treat and improve surface water before discharge to the wetland meadows and Ladysmill Burn.

 

Edge detailing includes recreational beach areas, wildflower and water meadows, gabion path and deck detailing and combinations of riparian tree avenues.

The main feature building within Central Park is a tensile PTFE structure with flexible pod units providing essential services, storage and visitor and ranger facilities. Located on the southern pool with a south facing aspect the facility
overlooks the modest 'Grand Lawn' providing the frontage and event space within Central Park.