WHAT DOES THE FUTURE OF THE PARC LOOK LIKE?
From the very beginning the committee has had a clear vision for the facilities that will ultimately be developed at the PARC. Each stage of development requires funding and so year by year we are working with sponsors and donors and moving towards fulfilling the original vision.
Still to come:
Full-sized grass football pitch – aiming for September 2024
Sensory Garden completion – aiming for March 2025
New Barn centre – aiming for 2026
Children’s play area – aiming for 2026
Boule Court – aiming for 2026
WHO GUIDES THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PARC?
WCSF began as a committee in 2000, and became a Registered Charity in 2007 (Registered Charity number 1121349). The organisation is run by a volunteer board of trustees with representatives from Wotton Rovers Football Club, Wotton Hockey Club, Wotton Rugby Club, Wotton parkrun, Sport Wotton, Wotton Town Council plus other co-opted members fulfilling various roles. We always work hard to consult with the local community, businesses and individuals to help guide the future of the PARC. If you have any ideas about what you would like to see within the PARC in future or want to help support its development, then please contact us by clicking here.
WHAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED SO FAR
Since 2000 WCSF have:
Managed and maintained a 38-acre site
In 2006, built a grass rugby pitch (now home to Wotton Rugby Club)
In 2013, secured funding for two all-weather pitches – one for hockey (now home to Wotton Hockey Club), and one for junior football and 5-a-side (now home to Wotton Rovers Junior FC), and overseen their construction
At the peak of the season we welcome over 3,000 users per week from the local community and surrounding area – players, coaches, officials and supporters, plus runners, joggers, walkers, skate park and BMX users, volunteers
Ensured the sustainability of the 3 pitches and the whole site to enable us to welcome everyone from the local community to enjoy the site.
Secured extra funding to pay for enhancements to the pitches and the whole site including new equipment, parking, paths and lighting
2015 – Raised Funds for and installed a skate park
Provided refreshment units from time to time, and permanent toilet facilities
Planted wildflowers and over 7,000 trees, to provide a wildlife corridor, and bring improvements to drainage by uptake of groundwater
Welcomed on site: Kingswood School as part of the “Forest School” programme, local film makers for A level projects and photographers for wildlife projects
Improved the ecology of the site by encouraging plant growth in 2 ponds, both now a great wetland asset
Created a website, Twitter account, Facebook page, issued regular newsletters, featured in Wotton Times, Gazette and Directory
Strengthened our committee each year
Planted a mixed fruit community orchard in 2015, with more planted by Wotton Community Orchard Group in 2019
Worked with local schools, the youth club, new youth projects, Wotton Town Council, local Police, our District Councillors, Gloucestershire County Council, South Glos CC, the Police & Crime Commissioner, Men’s Sheds, the Lions, Round Table, Dementia Connections, Under the Edge Arts, The Greenway project, and many local groups for the benefit of the whole community
2016 – Raised funds to construct a safe access path to the skate park and proposed BMX park; were part of the team that brought the speed limit down from 50 to 40mph to improve safety at the entrance to New Road
Also that year, developed a walking and jogging trail all around the site to encourage use for fitness training, nature walks, memory walks and community use, including 2 regular weekly parkruns: 1 every Saturday at 9am averaging 65 participants – welcoming all ages and abilities – and a junior parkrun every Sunday for under 14s www.parkrun.org.uk – Wotton parkrun
Funded and installed 13 sponsored benches, 2 picnic tables and a youth shelter. And a defibrillator thanks to Wotton Lions
2018 – Raised funds to build a BMX Park in 2018
2019 – Extended entrance and built 16 new parking spaces
2020 – Secured funding and built 2 junior grass pitches – 1 x 9-a-side and 1 youth 11-a-side – which with the 3G artificial pitch gives Wotton Rovers YFC a single location to base the club
2021 – Introduction of a Junior parkrun every Sunday morning (from summer onwards)
2021 – Began the development of an accessible Sensory Garden and Nature Trail, with a summerhouse, benches, pond and bog garden, flowers, herbs, fruit, mature trees, bulbs for every season, and planned boards with wildlife information
2022 – Raised funds to install a further 60 parking spaces
Welcomed the community to:
Party in the PARC June 2017,2018 and 2019 – our music and family festival
In November, an annual Bonfire & Firework evening run by Round Table
Open days to celebrate each new development
Weekly car boot sales over the summer
County running events and Fun Runs
Rain or Shine theatre group
Outdoor cinema organised by KLB Friends
Cotswold Challenge charity run
A skate park event
OUR FUTURE PLANS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SITE: MAY NEED PLANNING – DEFINITELY NEED FUNDING
Construction of The New Barn Centre – a community space with large flexible social area, kitchen, bar, toilets, landscaping, veranda, storage and office space
Construction of a children’s play area with large sandpit, a grass maze, and seating to create a space for family sport and leisure
Construction of a full-size grass football pitch
Construction of a Boules court and a barbeque and picnic area
A full-size all-weather pitch for football and rugby with changing rooms
A bandstand
A sculpture trail
