West Gorton Community Park
- Location
- Manchester, UK
- Client
- Manchester City Council
- Expertise
- Landscape Architecture
- Building Services Engineering
- Design Management
- Lighting
- Town Planning
- Completion
- 2020
- Size
- 57.3 Ha
- Cost
- £1.5m
West Gorton Community Park is a new, sustainable green space for the local community that uses an interconnected series of swales, rain gardens and bio-attenuation features to help prevent flooding and reduce the impact of climate change in Manchester.
Unlike a typical park, West Gorton Community Park has been specifically designed to manage the flow of rainwater into a drainage system and nature-based solutions have been implemented to combat the effects of climate change.
Paths and hard surfaces have been replaced with permeable paving to allow rainwater to percolate through to the ground. Infiltration ponds will soak up water and any remaining will flow into sunken rain gardens, which have been planted with a range of biodiverse vegetation to mimic the area’s natural environment. During heavy storms, water that cannot be absorbed by soil and vegetation will be captured through a series of “v” shaped channels and used to water the trees and plants.
“The ‘sponge park’ will serve as a wonderful model for how green spaces can help us to tackle the effects of climate change. Its intelligent design will reduce the risk of local flooding, as well as helping to create a more attractive, healthier environment for residents.”
The new community park is the final piece in a £100m regeneration scheme of 500 new homes, new community facilities and school improvements in the West Gorton area. It has three different areas; a woodland area with tree-lined paths and play equipment; a biodiverse meadow with picnic area and community area for outdoor events. Residents and visitors are encouraged to interact with the nature around them and feel a strong sense of community.
This park is also the first UK demonstrator project for the “GrowGreen” initiative, which is funded by the European Union’s 2020 Horizon programme. The University of Manchester will monitor the storm water flows over the next five years to examine how effective the park is in reducing flooding.
"Climate change and the need to plan for green infrastructure is playing an increasingly significant role in our approach to design. West Gorton Community Park has given us the opportunity to create enticing spaces that help us feel connected to others and support the environments we inhabit."
