Land Based Recreation and Leisure
Where are we now?
The Park provides a wide range of land based
recreational and leisure opportunities, supported
by purpose built facilities and a well considered
infrastructure. Activities available throughout the
Park include:-
Walking running cycling
The expanse of the Park allows for a variety of routes
to be taken on foot, running or by cycle. For most users,
walking, running or cycling in the Park is for recreation and
enjoyment, although for some users the primary purpose
may not be recreational but functional; for example to
get to work or the shops. Whether for leisure or everyday
business, the Park’s aim is to provide all users with a range
of routes that meet their different needs.
Informal use and access to open space
The majority of our estate is fully accessible to the public;
much of it with unrestricted access, although most of our
facilities and some open space areas do have controlled opening hours (e.g. sports facilities, operational farmland,
allotments, club operated facilities).
Access to land owned by others in the Park is more
varied, with some areas having unrestricted access
(e.g. parkland managed by local authorities) while other
areas have severely restricted or prohibited access (e.g.
water supply reservoirs).
Play
There is currently little ‘traditional’ playground provision,
apart from those incorporated within visitor facilities
(e.g. Lee Valley Farms), although the Park does offer a
valuable resource for informal play in its diverse range of
open space.
Horse riding
Equestrian use of the Park is a popular recreational
activity, and can be undertaken at specific areas of
the Park (e.g. Lee Valley Riding Centre, Walthamstow
Marshes). However in much of the Park equestrian
access is limited due to the physical constraints of rail,
roads and waterways that traverse the area and by
perceived conflicts with other uses.
Recreation and leisure facilities
There are a wide range of facilities providing specific
recreation and leisure activities throughout the Park.
We operate a number of these facilities, including those
considered in more detail in the Sports Facility section
of the framework.
Other facilities are provided by a range of public, private
and club based operators.
What do we want to achieve?
For recreational and leisure use to be one of
the defining elements of the Park.
To integrate a wide range of leisure and
recreation uses, including the following:
Walking, running and cycling
We want to develop the network of routes, facilities and
other infrastructure to offer a high quality and diverse
range of opportunities for people of all abilities.
Informal use and access to open space
We want to increase the amount of accessible open
space within the Park, as well as the range
of experiences and activities available for users.
Play
We want the Park to be a place where people can and
are encouraged to play. We want to provide space and
play provisions; to include natural and wild areas as well
as specifically designed and managed facilities. These
should cater for people of all ages, abilities and cultures.
Horse riding
We want the Park to provide a more comprehensive
equestrian offer that integrates with the wider bridleway
network beyond the Park boundary.
Specific purpose facilities
To cater for a diverse community of age, abilities and
interests we want to ensure that facilities are used to
their best potential. We will strive to establish synergy
between different facilities at the various sites so that
they work together to provide multi-purpose, rather than
stand alone, activities.
How will we deliver?
Park wide
We will
- Continue to develop the infrastructure to support walking,
running and cycling throughout the Park. This will include:
- Route network
Our proposals for the ongoing development and
management of the Parks route network are set out
in the Visitor Infrastructure section of this document.
- Coordinated cycle hire network
Develop a coordinated network of cycle hire
opportunities throughout the Park. This will enable
users to pick up and drop off cycles at points
throughout the Park. Hire opportunities should be
located at primary visitor nodes and close to public
transport access points.
- Information
Maps, guides and other interpretive information to
promote and enhance the enjoyment of walking
and cycling in the Park. We will work with partners,
both within and surrounding the Park, to ensure
information includes the wider network of routes
and encourages links beyond the Park boundaries
to other sites of interest.
On our estate
We will
- Diversify and add interest to the route network
through secondary infrastructure and enhanced site
management/maintenance.
- Develop a network of visitor facilities that meet the
needs of people walking, running and cycling through
the Park by providing changing facilities, showers,
secure storage etc.
- Continue to increase the extent and quality of
accessibility within our own estate where possible.
This will be undertaken by improving the physical
infrastructure, overcoming existing barriers to access,
enhancing attractiveness and safety. We will focus
attention on those areas that are currently inaccessible
or have restricted access. Priority sites include:
- Spitalbrook
- St Pauls Field/Nazeing Mead
- South Glen Faba
- Acquire affordable land currently owned by others
within the Park to improve the quality of publicly
accessible open space for leisure and recreation. Risks
within this process to be appropriately mitigated (e.g.
risk of land contamination). Priority sites include:
- Wharf Road/Turnford
- Land south of Glen Faba
- Land required to deliver the Lea Valley Pathway –
Roydon Loop
- Develop a range of playable space and play provisions
that will encourage, facilitate and invite play. These
will include:
- Key visitor facilities
Introduce the provision of playable space and play
areas as a core component of the offer at key
visitor facilities.
- Creative grounds maintenance
Introduce playable space across the Park through
creative maintenance.
- Signage
Install appropriate signage to help identify specific
areas where play is encouraged.
- Information
Promote play opportunities through marketing,
education programmes and events.
- Regionally significant play destinations
Explore opportunities for the development of one or more regionally significant destination play facilities.
Potential sites include:
- Lee Valley Leisure Complex (Picketts Lock)
- Broxbourne (former Lee Valley Leisure Pool site)
- River Lee Country Park
- Where possible and appropriate, extend the bridleway
network on our own estate, and create links to bridleway
networks and paths outside the Park boundary.
- Specific recreation and leisure facilities
Continue to operate our existing recreation and leisure
facilities (subject to periodic review as described below)
- Periodically review the ongoing operation of all our
recreation and leisure facilities to assess current and
future operation, usage, expansion and refurbishment.
The review will include consideration of factors such as:
- Regional value offered by the facility
- Provision of competing or complementary facilities
in and around the Park
- Life cycle and asset management costs of the facility
- Commercial viability and potential operating/
development partners
- Explore opportunities for the provision of new
recreation and leisure facilities through commercial
partnership. Such facilities should contribute (either
individually or collectively) to an enhanced regional
offer, and should be appropriate to our wider aims and
objectives (i.e. as expressed in this document). Priority
sites for development of new recreation and leisure
facilities include:
- Broxbourne (Leisure Pool site)
- South River Lee Country Park
- Rammey Marsh West
- Picketts Lock
- Lea Bridge Road
- Lea River Park (including Three Mills Green and
East India Dock Basin)
Working with others
We will
- Continue to support the range of existing recreation
and leisure facilities owned and operated by others
within the Park.
- Continue to work with other landowners to encourage
and facilitate increased public access to currently
inaccessible or restricted access land. Priority sites/
landowners include:
- Walthamstow Reservoirs – Thames Water
- Tumbling Bay – British Waterways
- Work with other landowners and partners within the Park
to expand the bridleway network throughout the Park.
- Continue to work in partnership with existing providers
of recreation and leisure opportunities within the Park.
- Support the ongoing development of new recreation
and leisure facilities within the Park where they
contribute (either individually or collectively) to an
enhanced regional offer. These should be appropriate
to our wider aims and objectives for the Park.