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Parks improvement projects

Disability Discrimination Act - DDA - facilities improvement programme

Parks and Open Spaces are currently benefiting from approx. £175,000 per year for three years to improve access to Borough sites and facilities.

King’s Field Pavilion proposal

The Parks and Open Spaces Section working in partnership with the Richmond Youth Partnership (RYP) have redeveloped the derelict pavilion building at the King's Field, Hampton Wick, into a community café and venue for activities for children and young people. This will also be the base for the operation of the other facilities available at Kingsfield, namely two tennis courts and the ever-popular skate park. This will become an essential facility in an area of the borough with little in the way of youth provision. The project also builds on existing contacts that RYP have made with young people at the site through the youth café bus, which has been working with young people on site for over 9 months. This project has many exciting potential benefits for the youth of the borough and the wider community.

Key features:

  • Refurbished café building offering drinks/snacks during Kings field opening hours with patio seating area.
  • Additional Room available for youth and community use.
  • Qualified youth work staff always present (1 full time and regular sessional workers)
  • Establishment of management committee with representation of all interested parties to include young people, local residents, Parks and open spaces, community police team, councillors.
  • Thorough consultation on all aspects of the proposal.
  • Fundraising support for ongoing maintenance of site from Richmond Youth Partnership charity.
  • Improved health and safety for young people using the skate park facility.
  • Potential development of under 5 play area.
  • Use of the King's Field sports facilities by a wider cross section of community. Including occasional RYP events for member groups.
  • The potential to develop a model for further redevelopments within LBRUT and other boroughs.

Richmond Youth Partnership is a charitable voluntary organisation, which has a proven track record in providing welcoming, and "young person friendly" services and support throughout Richmond and neighbouring areas. They currently operate three distinctive services:

  • A youth counselling service through "Off the Record"
  • A drugs education project, "The Detached Drugs Awareness Project"
  • The "Youth Café Bus", a converted double decker bus which currently attends The King's Field on Saturdays as well as operating elsewhere in the borough

They have been awarded Key Strategic Organisation (KSO) status by the borough for work with young people