Mansionhouse Community Park, Springboig

Developing a community Park

In June 2002, committee members of the Mansionhouse Residents Association contacted the project for help with environmental improvements to a neighbouring greenspace.

Together, a project plan and outline design were developed to try and provide solutions to the problems that had been identified in the area. These problems include:

security risk for households next to the greenspace;
the area is in a degraded state and is regarded as an eye sore;
people do not feel safe using the area;
people are unaware of what is on their doorstep; and
fly tipping

The initial design was presented to other concerned parties including local schools, Councillors, Glasgow City Council representatives and the Strathclyde Police. It received their resounding support.

Next, over 40 local residents attended a public meeting on Wednesday 11th September at which the plans were discussed and endorsed.

The Project

The site, which is currently owned by a private development company, consists of 2.5 hectares of neglected woodland and scrub. The area is bordered to the north by the Camlachie Burn and to the south by the Mansionhouse Gardens estate.

Site of the proposed park

The Residents Association would like to develop the area into a community park, and has chosen a name to reflect the areas history and future use: MANSIONHOUSE COMMUNITY PARK.

Ideas and design

During the design process a huge range of ideas were discussed, and in order to capture the Residents’ ‘vision’ for the area, Linda McGregor and Louise Gillan (the ‘artists’ of the committee) produced a number of sketches.

Proposed design

The proposed plan for the area included:

resurfacing the paths with tarmac and linking them to other sites for use by all members of the local community
planting of a thorny hedge around the perimeter fence to improve household security building stone walls at the entrances to attract people into the park managing the woodland and scrub areas to make the area look more attractive and encourage more wildlife

Community Events

The Residents Association have organized a number of community events to promote the use of the area by local people. The first event was held during September 2002, and involved local residents taking part in a community clean up. The day was a huge success with over 60 people taking part.

State of play

The Residents’ Association committee focussed on raising the necessary funding for the project which was successfully raised during 2003and work began that spring.

The grand opening took place in the summer 2003 when the park was officially opened for the whole community to enjoy this unique resource in the East End of the city.

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