Response to COVID-19

Introduction
Research Reports
Current Guidance
Acknowledgements

Introduction

Parks and green spaces are vital to how we deal with COVID-19. At CFP we have been working to support the sector by donating our time for free to the Midlands Parks Forum (MPF) to undertake initial research that was fedback straight to government.

Following national interest in this work we have secured funding to develop a collaborative approach to further help the sector and this page sets out that work as it progresses.

This web page sets out the results of the work along with current national guidance. The outputs of our work are set out under research reports below.

Research Reports

There are three key reports that have been generated by this work which includes

• Managing public parks during COVID-19 guidance
• Case studies on the financial impact of COVID-19 on parks services
• A recovery planning paper looking at the future of public parks

Managing public parks during COVID-19

We have researched currently available guidance and worked collaboratively with parks management practitioners across the country to produce a guide to managing parks in the current pandemic.

The guide is correct at the time of publishing and we recognise that there are still several key areas where no guidance exists including:

• Re-opening children’s play areas
• Re-opening public toilets in parks
• Re-introducing volunteer activity in parks

We believe that various government departments are looking at each of these items.

Case Studies

In order to gain a snap shot of the financial impact of the pandemic on local authority parks services we have carried out 6 in depth case studies as well as speaking to many local authority parks managers. These case studies will be published by the end of June.

Recovery planning

We see this work as just the start of a wider discussion about the future of urban green space.

We have identified some key themes for debate and captured current thinking…

• Parks and public health
• Parks and social equity
• Parks and biodiversity
• Park financial models

We welcome your views and contributions – please contact Ian Baggott by emailing him at ian@cfpuk.co.uk or phoning on 01562 887884.

Current government guidance

Guidance for the owners and operators of urban centres and green spaces to help social distancing.

Coronavirus (COVID-19): advice on accessing green spaces safely.

Guidance for the public on the phased return of outdoor sport and recreation in England.

Guidance for food businesses on Coronavirus (COVID-19).  

COVID-19 – cleaning in non-healthcare settings.

Working safely during Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Heritage locations.

Working safely during coronavirus (COVID-19) – The visitor economy.

COVID-19: Guidance for managing playgrounds and outdoor gyms.

Other guidance

Parks for London – COVID-19 – Guidance for Parks and Green Space Managers.

Sports England – Coronavirus: what happens next?

UK active – Coronavirus (COVID-19): Advice and guidance for the physical activity sector.

Chartered Institute of Environmental Health – Food delivery and takeaway guidance.

Lawn Tennis Association – Coronavirus (COVID-19) – latest update.

Skateboard England – COVID-19 Statement.

Visitor Safety Group – COVID 19 Recovery Planning Guidance.

Managing Youth Sector Activities and Spaces During COVID-19.

Visit Britain – We’re Good to Go.

Acknowledgements

We are extremely grateful to the following people and organisations with whom we are working:

Funders and Steering Group

Drew Bennellick – Head of Land and Nature Policy UK, National Lottery Heritage Fund

Ian Leete – Senior Adviser – Culture, Tourism and Sport, Local Government Association

Samantha Ramanah – Advisor – Culture, Tourism and Sport, Local Government Association

Victoria Bradford-Keegan – Delivery Director, Future Parks Accelerator, National Trust & National Lottery Heritage Fund

Chris Worman – Parks and Grounds Manager, Rugby Borough Council and member of the Parks Action Group

Collaborators

Paul Obrien – Chief Executive, Association for Public Service Excellence

Wayne Priestly – Lead Officer for APSE Northern, Association for Public Service Excellence

David Lambert – Parks Agency

Case Study Contributors

Chris Avent – Green Estate Manager, Plymouth City Council

Chris Worman – Parks and Grounds Manager, Rugby Borough Council and member of the Parks Action Group

Eddie Curry – Head of Public Realm, Nottingham City Council and member of the Core Cities Parks and Green Spaces Group

Mike Kinnaird – Development Manager, Leeds City Council

Simon Frosdick – Business Development Manager, Leeds City Council

Paul Rabbitts – Head of Parks, Heritage and Culture, Watford Borough Council

Liz Stuffins – Public Health Programme – Service Development Manager, Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council and Chair of the Midlands Parks Forum

Webinar Participants

Three webinars were held as part of the research which fed into this report. These were:

Future Parks Accelerator Webinar 15.5.20

Midlands Parks Forum Webinar 20.5.20

APSE Webinar 20.5.20