Parkland 1_Mossland Park Vision and Concept Statement_lowres

January 2016
Mossland Park
Vision and Concept Statement

Disclaimer
This drawing/document is for illustrative purposes only and should not be used
for any construction or estimation purposes. Do not scale drawings. No liability
or responsibility is accepted arising from reliance upon the information contained
in this drawing/document.
Copyright
All drawings are Crown Copyright 2012. All rights reserved. Licence number
100020449.
Contents
1. Introduction 03
2. Strategic perspective 04
3. Parkland proposition 07
4. Mossland Park: The opportunity 09
5. Development Framework: Mossland Park 13
6. Framework Masterplan 14
7. Delivering the parklands 18
8. Socio-economic benefits 28
Appendix
1. Context Analysis 31
Office Address
10th Floor
1 New York Street
Manchester M1 4HD
Telephone
0161 233 7676
Date of issue
11 January 2016
Disclaimer
This drawing/document is for illustrative purposes only and should not be used for any construction or estimation
purposes. Do not scale drawings. No liability or responsibility is accepted arising from reliance upon the
information contained in this drawing/document.
Copyright
All drawings are Crown Copyright 2015. All rights reserved. Licence number 100020449.
2 Mossland Park – Vision and Concept Statement

1. Introduction
This vision and concept statement sets out ideas
for a Mossland Park, as part of a wider vision for
the sustainable growth of Greater Manchester.
Borough boundaries
Motorway
Principal roads
Rail
Metrolink
Leigh, Salford and Manchester Busway
Proposed sustainable urban extensions
1. Land at Parr Fold
2. East of Irlam
3. Land south of East Lancs Road, Astley/
Boothstown
Future Metrolink extension
Greater Manchester Combined Authority
Green Belt
Mossland Park
2
1
3
1.1 This document is part of a suite that sets out
opportunities for urban extensions delivered with high
quality green infrastructure in the north and west of
Greater Manchester. The proposals would fulfil the
objectives of the NPPF by boosting significantly the
housing supply of Greater Manchester and delivering
positive use of the Green Belt through public access,
landscape improvements and enhanced biodiversity.
1.2 The statement draws on the findings of
research by AGMA and Natural England1,2
. They
support the vision shared by Greater Manchester
Combined Authority that “By 2020, the Manchester
city region will have pioneered a new model for
sustainable economic growth based around a more
connected, talented and greener city region where
all our residents are able to contribute to and benefit
from sustained prosperity and enjoy a good quality
of life.”3
1.3 It illustrates a vision for an area of new
parkland: Mossland Park. This would be a
greenspace area of c.1,000 ha enabled by the
development of a series of sustainable urban
extensions, details of which are provided in separate
prospectuses. They are:
2. East of Irlam
3. Land south of East Lancashire Road,
Astley/Boothstown
1 Towards a Green Infrastructure Framework for Greater Manchester – AGMA/Natural England (TEP) 2008
2 GM Green Infrastructure Next Steps towards a Green Infrastructure Framework – AGMA/Natural England (TEP) 2010
3 Greater Manchester Strategy 2013-2020 Stronger Together – GMCA 2013
1.4 These proposals equate to a total of
c. 5,000 homes.
1.5 The Mossland Park would be centred on
Worsley Moss, Botany Bay Woods and parts of
Chat Moss. The Moss area is an important
agricultural and natural resource, with many natural
and man-made features of significance. It however
has very little public access. Peel as a significant
land owner, together with other stakeholders, has
aspirations for its conservation and enhancement.
1.6 This statement builds on the principles
of previous strategies, sets out what could be
achieved, and states how Peel’s land could help
to deliver an asset of real and lasting value for
the benefit of Greater Manchester. The proposals
illustrated in this vision are part of Peel’s contribution
to wider objectives for the growth and development
of Greater Manchester. We would seek to engage
with other landowners and stakeholders within the
Mosslands area and build a partnership through a
shared agenda. This document seeks to inform and
shape this shared approach.
Mossland Park – Vision and Concept Statement 3

2.1 The Greater Manchester Devolution
Agreement will transfer a range of responsibilities
into local control. The objective is to enable Greater
Manchester to use devolved powers to deliver
higher growth and help rebalance the UK economy.
2.2 The Greater Manchester Combined
Authority (GMCA) is embarking on a strategic
planning process – the Greater Manchester
Spatial Framework (GMSF). The GMSF will plan
for employment and housing growth at a Greater
Manchester and borough scale and will identify
strategic locations for growth.
2.3 It is clear that from the evidence gathered to
date that the scale of growth needed is significant.
Greater Manchester’s needs for new homes and
employment land cannot be met on land within
the urban area alone. Planned urban expansion is
needed. This expansion should be directed to the
most sustainable locations.
2.4 With Mossland Park we can take an attractive
proposal for three sustainable urban expansions
with the unique added benefit of an unrivalled green
space that no other urban expansions can bring.
2. Strategic perspective
This document sets out a
vision for delivery of new
homes to meet Greater
Manchester’s needs and
the creation of Mossland
Park. It explores the
contribution these
could make to growth
requirements and green
infrastructure needs.
1
Borough boundaries
Motorway
Principal roads
Rail
Metrolink
Leigh, Salford and Manchester Busway
Proposed sustainable urban extensions
2. East of Irlam
3. Land south of East Lancs Road,
Astley/Boothstown
Future Metrolink extension
Greater Manchester Combined Authority
Green Belt
Mossland Park
National Park
3
2

Green infrastructure, the natural spaces within and
between our communities, contributes strongly to
character and sense of place. Its benefits include
helping to meet recreation needs, supporting
biodiversity, promoting health and wellbeing and
stimulating economic growth. Investment in more
and better green infrastructure as part of meeting
growth needs is an essential component of
sustainable city growth.
Towards a Green Infrastructure Framework
for Greater Manchester
2.5 “The green infrastructure of Greater
Manchester is part of its life support system. It
is a planned and managed network of natural
environmental components and green spaces that
intersperse and connect our urban centres, our
suburbs and our rural fringe. In simple terms, it is our
natural outdoor environment.”
2.6 This definition of Green Infrastructure (GI) in
the GI Framework for Greater Manchester 1
provides
a basis for understanding the nature and role of GI.
Within Greater Manchester it defines this as:
1. Open spaces e.g. parks, woodlands, informal
open spaces, nature reserves, lakes, historic
sites and natural elements of built conservation
areas, civic spaces and plazas, and accessible
countryside.
Mossland Park is a unique opportunity to combine meeting housing needs with the delivery of Greater Manchester’s first new
park of regional scale in a generation. No other proposal for 5,000 homes in Greater Manchester can bring with it the delivery
of a unique parkland offer – not only benefitting communities in the north west of Greater Manchester, Wigan and Salford but the
whole of Greater Manchester.
2. Linkages e.g. river corridors and canals,
pathways, cycle routes and greenways.
3. Networks of “urban green” i.e. the collective
resource of private gardens, pocket parks, street
trees, verges and green roofs.
Greater Manchester Strategy 2013-2020
Stronger Together (2013)
2.7 The quality of our natural environment has a
direct economic impact, which is reflected in the
fact that a high-quality environment contributes to
the majority of the Greater Manchester Combined
Authority’s 2
priorities for growth. Conversely, a
poor quality environment will be a drag on progress
towards these same goals.
The Economic Benefits of Green
Infrastructure
2.8 Research on the economic benefits of GI
on from ECOTEC by The Mersey Forest on behalf
of Natural Economy Northwest 3
demonstrates
GI investment brings eleven economic returns.
Of particular relevance to Greater Manchester’s
economy are the following four:
1. Enabling high-value housing and economic
growth
2. Improving health and wellbeing
3. Improving Greater Manchester’s image as a
place to visit and relocate to
4. Contributing to a low-carbon economy.
Planning Healthier Places – TCPA and
Public Health England
2.9 Good quality, accessible green space and
infrastructure can also provide many potential health
and well-being benefits. The evidence put forward in
publications such as Planning Healthier Places by
the TCPA and Public Health England 4
, strongly
suggests that, at their best, green spaces can
help reduce health inequalities and that both the
improvement of existing, and creation of new, green
infrastructure should be prioritised, especially in areas
of greatest need.
2.10 It is therefore important to consider green
infrastructure holistically and at landscape level as
well as individual site scale. Benefits will be achieved
most successfully if green space creation and
management are integrated with more traditional land
development and built infrastructure planning.
2.11 In responding to this a GI Framework is a
positive, forward-looking system which promotes
the means to foster positive change in areas of need
and opportunity. If adopted at city-regional and local
levels, it can help deliver the positive objectives of the
planning system and can also deliver environmental
and economic objectives of the various strategies
already referenced.
Manchester Green Infrastructure Strategy
2.12 The recent Manchester Green (& Blue)
Infrastructure Strategy 5
for example sets out
guidelines for the management of the city’s 160
parks. Its vision is that “by 2025 high-quality, well
maintained green and blue spaces will be an integral
part of all neighbourhoods. The city’s communities
will be living healthy, fulfilled lives, enjoying access to
parks and green spaces and safe green routes for
walking, cycling and exercise throughout the city.”
2.13 The strategy will support the City of
Manchester’s growth and its objectives are to:
• Use GI as a key component of new development
to create successful neighbourhoods and support
city’s growth
• Improve quality and function of GI to
maximise benefits
1 Towards a Green Infrastructure Framework for Greater Manchester – AGMA/Natural England (TEP) 2008
2 Greater Manchester Strategy 2013-2020 Stronger Together – GMCA 2013
3 The economic benefits of Green Infrastructure – Natural Economy Northwest 2009
4 Planning Healthier Places – TCPA and Public Health England 2013
5 Manchester Green Infrastructure Strategy – MCC March 2015
• Improve connectivity and accessibility to
GI within the city and beyond
• Improve and promote a wider understanding
and awareness of the benefits that GI
provides to residents, the economy and
the local environment.
2.14 These principles can be applied at a Greater
Manchester level.
Greater Manchester – The City of Trees
2.15 Another initiative which complements the GI
Infrastructure objectives is Greater Manchester – The
City of Trees. This broad initiative objective is to Build
a City of Trees – through the auspices of Red Rose
Forest. It is aimed at the integration of all agencies
interested in developing new tree planting and
woodland across Greater Manchester. It also seeks
to build relationships and encourage a range of other
stakeholders to plant more trees.
Overview
2.16 It is clear that GI will increasingly play a major
role in the delivery of sustainable economic growth for
the whole city region. Mossland Park could make a
major contribution to this agenda.

2.17 Mosslands is a unique place and the wealth
of environmental and landscape assets it contains
provide an inspiration in their own right. The parkland
design will respond to these features. In considering
the potential they provide we have also studied
examples of good practice elsewhere.
2.18 We have considered examples of successful
city parks across the UK and Europe. These include
large scale regeneration projects, strategic growth
areas and reclamation projects.
Inspirations and precedents
Lee Valley Regional Park, LondonECOS Centre, Northern Ireland

The opportunity for a new ‘Destination Park’
*identified in Towards a Green Infrastructure Framework for Greater
Manchester – AGMA/Natural England (TEP) 2008
1 Towards a Green Infrastructure Framework for Greater Manchester –
AGMA/Natural England (TEP) 2008
3.1 There is a major opportunity in the Mosslands
area to create a new and exciting place that delivers
sustainable growth and uses the opportunity it
presents to address local green infrastructure
need and make a major contribution to a greener
city region. The development of a series of new
sustainable urban extensions can enable the
development of the Mossland Park. This approach
would deliver urban extensions to help meet
Greater Manchester’s housing needs whilst opening
up a currently inaccessible area of Green Belt and
countryside for the benefit of residents of the
new and existing communities, alongside
environmental enhancements.
3.2 Greater Manchester’s Green Infrastructure
Framework 1
, commissioned by AGMA identified
14 “destination parks” across Greater Manchester.
The parks as selected, are within 5km (or 15 min
cycling) of their adjacent communities, and generally
show good accessibility. However, parts of Wigan
and Salford around the Mosslands and parts of Bury
and Bolton are poorly provided for. The proposed
Mossland Park could complement existing provision
and significantly enhance Greater Manchester’s green
infrastructure offer.
3.3 Mossland Park could be delivered as part
of the implementation of a series of proposed urban
extensions in adjacent communities north and south
of the Mosslands. Development of c. 5,000 homes
can generate capital (raised through a CIL planning
contribution and tariff per home) to deliver the park
in a phased manner. Long-term maintenance could
be addressed through several mechanisms, one
of which could be a service charge on the homes
(enabled through a planning process).
3.4 Peel can achieve this because of its extensive
landholdings where access rights can be granted
and improvements delivered. The parkland could be
delivered by creating enhanced public access, better
and additional circulation systems, visitor and event
facilities and associated landscape improvements
and biodiversity initiatives.
3. Parkland proposition

The Proposition
3.5 The proposition is to develop three sustainable
urban extensions which could deliver around 5,000
new homes. This will support Greater Manchester
in meeting it’s housing needs, whilst making a large
area of the Green Belt accessible to the public and
improving its biodiversity and landscape quality
through the development of Mossland Park. This can
be achieved through Peel’s unique landholding and
approach to these developments.
3.6 Part of the capital and revenue generated
from three development sites can help facilitate
improved access works and improvements to open
the Mossland to the public and deliver environmental
enhancements. Other partners will be able to join in
and contribute to the delivery of the vision.
3.7 Many agencies have long held ambitions
for the Mosslands area. Adopting an integrated
approach, Peel could build upon and reflect the
objectives of a wide range of partnerships, including:
• Natural England
• Lancashire Wildlife Trust
• Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA)
and specifically Salford City Council and
Wigan Council
• Great Manchester Wetland Partnership
• Red Rose Forest.
Mossland Park – The proposition for a partnership approach
Yens drawing
3.8 Prospective partners who have relevant interest
and who Peel may engage with include:
• RHS Garden Bridgewater
• Incredible Edible
• The Land Trust
• Network Rail
• Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM)
• Existing and potential leisure operators
• Agricultural tenants
• NPL Estates
• Other landowners within the Mossland area
• Others to be identified.
3.9 Each of the agencies contributed to a range of
reports and initiatives, which have helped analyse the
Mosslands area and the greater landscape resource
of the Wigan Flashes and Mersey Corridor. They have
produced recommendations for the preservation,
management and improvement of its resources.
3.10 All have found the area to be a rich and unique
place, blending social and economic history with
important landscape types and environmentally
significant habitats. Some have designations of local
and national significance.
3.11 The Mosslands Project, undertaken by a group
of interested parties such as Salford, Wigan and
Warrington councils, Natural England and the Red
Rose Forest (the Mosslands Action Group), whilst
recognising the intrinsic qualities and the abundant
natural credentials of the Mosslands, has advocated
increased public access, education and enjoyment
as part of a sustainable future for the area.
3.12 Peel also recognises the benefits of future
stewardship of the area and would support an
integration plan and management regime that
delivers short, medium and long term goals and
operations, and evaluates, manages and monitors
the Mossland Park. Proposition Diagram

Key
Mossland Park
Area within a 10 minute drive
Context – Catchment and impact
The Mossland Park area is within reach of over
608,000 people in a 10 minute drive time. It could
transform the provision and accessibility of quality
green space within this part of Greater Manchester.
Potential catchment within a 10 minute drive
4.1 Salford City Council, Wigan Council and
other agencies have long held ambitions for this
area. These were encapsulated in a number of key
reports – notably the Mosslands Project1
and The
Great Manchester Wetlands Partnership’s Carbon
Trail2
(2014). These reports with their initiatives and
ideas are discussed later in this proposal where the
relevance to the Mossland Park is set out. This new
Mossland Park vision recognises the expectations
from previous initiatives.
4.2 This proposal explains how sustainable growth
can deliver a new accessible place that:
• Reflects the history and its sense of place
• Respects and enhances biodiversity
• Increases public access and circulation
• Creates opportunities for recreation and
leisure – both passive and active
• Supports and maintains visitors and facilities
• Maintains a working landscape that ensures
active and responsible stewardship of this
valuable landscape resource.
4.3 A Mossland Park can fulfil three major functions:
1. Create a new parkland facility that allows free
and easy public access for leisure and recreation
activities with enhanced visitor facilities.
2. Create an entity that meets the aspirations of the
environmental agencies, in relation to wildlife/nature
conservation and biodiversity enhancement, to
secure a major regional resource.
3. Ensure working farmland on high quality
agricultural land is continued. This would support
the park’s objectives.
4.4 Peel’s extensive ownership, working with other
partners in this location presents a unique opportunity
to deliver comprehensive and integrated development
of new communities and a new accessible park.
4. Mossland Park: The opportunity
1 The Mosslands Project - The Vision (Salford City Council) 2007
2 The Carbon Landscape (Great Manchester Wetlands Partnership) 2014

4.5 Centred on the significant Peel land ownership
in Salford and Wigan districts, the Mossland Park is
a unique opportunity. It is a sustainable location to
support Greater Manchester’s role in the Northern
Powerhouse. Delivery of this can help to fulfil a
long held ambition to create a green infrastructure
resource of regional significance.
4.6 The Mossland’s scale, environmental richness
and proximity to a city are without equal in the UK.
It has the potential to deliver a parkland of regional
significance which can have a transformational
impact on Greater Manchester’s green infrastructure.
4.7 As the newest and largest green infrastructure
opportunity in the city region Mossland Park
could become a principal destination park for
Greater Manchester, providing access to a range
of environments and recreational opportunities
unachievable elsewhere in the city region.
4.8 The new Mossland Park could:
• Transform the level of publicly accessible green
space within Greater Manchester, improving the
liveability of the city for residents
• Increase Greater Manchester’s attractiveness to
talent and inward migration
• Enhance Biodiversity – improving the natural
environment for species richness and more local
wildlife
• Increase public access to and understanding
of this landscape, with associated new facilities
for the enjoyment of all users and ages
• Restore and enhance valuable landscapes and
habitats for future generations
• Support a fertile landscape for sustainable and
healthy food production.
4.9 By connecting this enhanced environment with
economic and physical growth it can also help Greater
Manchester to deliver the government’s aspiration for
a strong and vibrant Northern Powerhouse.
4.10 This vision is predicated on the development
of the new park over a number of phases spanning
a long period. This would be facilitated by the delivery
of new homes around the edge of the Mossland.
The new works to the park will include physical
and management improvements to the existing
landscape, enhancements to habitat biodiversity
alongside improved access and new visitor facilities
for recreation and leisure; suggestions for which will
be detailed later in the proposal.
4.11 Working with all stakeholders Peel can help to
deliver a park that is connected to the communities
of Greater Manchester. It can become a valued piece
of green infrastructure for all in the city region, to be
used and enjoyed for generations to come.
The vision is to deliver sustainable urban growth
to meet Greater Manchester’s housing needs and
enable creation of a world class public park acting
as a regional attraction.
Vision

Vision diagram setting out proposed intervention areas
between
nbrook
between
nbrookk
**RHS Garden
Bridgewater
Boothstown
y
Walkden
Worsley
Bridgewat
y
SwintonGarratt
Hall
Vicars
Hall
Burgess
Farm
Proposed Sustainable Urban Extensions
Parr Fold
East of Irlam
Astley-Boothstown

Realising the scale of opportunity
4.12 The diagram opposite shows the scale of
opportunity presented by the Mossland Park. Peel’s
ownership extends to over 1,000 ha and includes
most of the land within. The diagram shows this
in the context of the footprint covered by several
well-known existing destination parks – Tatton Park,
Heaton Park and Haigh Hall. This highlights the
scale of the opportunity for new green infrastructure
provision that the Mossland Park could provide,
which would be created through the revitalisation
of a large tract of post industrial landscape and
agricultural land.
4.13 The range of activities and environments
supported by the destination parks highlighted
hints at the capacity of the Mossland area to offer a
huge range of facilities for users, which would allow
it to become established as a major public green
infrastructure asset.
Mossland Park is an opportunity of unparalleled
scale in Greater Manchester to create a new area
of green infrastructure which can serve local and
regional communities.

Suggestions for the park are informed by an
understanding of the character and qualities of the
place today.
Understanding the place
5.1 The Mossland area has been studied by many
agencies over recent years and its importance as
a valuable landscape and environmental resource
is well recognised. As major land owners of this
landscape, Peel recognises this potential and
understands the Mossland as a place very well.
5.2 Stretching across the full extent of the Worsley
Moss and Chat Moss, and crossing the boundaries
of Salford, Wigan and Warrington, the wider
Mossland area is a dramatic natural landscape
but also one influenced by human intervention over
hundreds of years. Historically the majority of the
Mossland landscape was covered by lowland raised
bog. Following the construction of the railways,
the land was drained and improved for agricultural
production resulting in the loss of much of this
habitat. Today, remnants of this formerly extensive
wetland remain and a number of the remaining
sites are designated to protect their nature
conservation value.
5.3 Public access is currently very limited, reflecting
the overriding agricultural use but this can leave
the area relatively isolated from the surrounding
communities and means it is not currently fulfilling
its full potential as a resource.
5.4 To further understand the nature of the place
and its potential a contextual analysis has been
provided in Appendix 1. It provides a broad summary
of analysis in six main sections:
A. Landscape and ecology
B. Green Infrastructure potential
C. Transportation and movement
D. Pedestrian and recreational movement
E. Existing edges
F. Proximity to local centres.
5. Conceptual framework: Mossland Park
Agricultural fields and drainage channels

6. Conceptual masterplan
The Mossland Park can be a new kind of park, fit for the 21st century,
combining recreation and activation with restoration and conservation.
Delivered alongside a series of high quality urban extensions these proposals
provide a framework for growth that can make Greater Manchester stronger,
greener and more sustainable.
Parkland vision
6.1 Peel’s vision for Mossland Park aims to deliver
investment in Green Infrastructure for
Greater Manchester that could:
• Enhance public access for passive recreation,
walking, cycling and horseriding
• Create areas for active recreation, trails, tours
and events
• Increase biodiversity of fauna and flora and
enhance natural habitats
• Emphasise wildlife species protection and
enhancement
• Foster the restoration of important landscapes
and ecological features
• Enhance health prospects and encourage more
sustainable lifestyles
• Support local food initiatives and allotments
• Provide educational resources and interpretation
of this unique setting.
6.2 The Mossland Park will be an integrated
environment, balancing the needs of ecology,
nature conservation, habitat biodiversity as well
as the enhancement of working agricultural units.
Its integration with neighbouring communities and
associated residential development will also make
this resource accessible and relevant to all.

Mossland Park - component ideas

Overview
6.3 The Mossland Park seeks to create a new and useable publicly accessible parkland in a part of
Greater Manchester where there is a gap in the provision. Used as both a local park and regional resource,
it can be accessible to all ages and for a large range of uses and users, all centred on biodiversity, nature and
leisure and recreational pursuits.
6.4 The park could contain a wide range of landscape characters given its collection of important
habitats and all can be linked by a series of looped and interconnected pathways – some upgraded existing
and some new.
6.5 The park can incorporate facilities for visitors, education and interpretation and can provide associated
car parks, cycle/bridleways and footpaths and open areas. Here, the area’s rich history can be explained
and interpreted. This would cover the natural flora and fauna, its aquatic aspects given by its peat bogs
and drainage areas through to its man-made industrial heritage with the historic canals and rail line,
and the exploitation of the area for energy sources (peat and coal), and minerals.
6.6 Wetland areas, regenerating peat bogs or sensitive woodland areas could be crisscrossed by pathways
on boardwalks, where nature can be viewed easily and safely, close up and first hand by all.
Masterplan elements
Character and themes
• Mossland Park could incorporate the best aspects of a recreational country park and a wildlife conservation
park, set within a working farms environment.
• The park could be based on environmental ideals of biodiversity and regeneration- changing perceptions
of how this can be achieved alongside continued farmed agriculture, and leisure interests.
• Key themes could be – Soil (peat), Water (lake and bog land), Flora (mosaic of woodland, scrub, trees and
grassland), Fauna (birds, small mammals and invertebrates), Species development and protection and
People (leisure, recreation and education).
• A sub theme of man’s influence on this unique Mosslands landscape with a focus on its Carbon history –
‘The Carbon Trail’ – Carbon Future.
• The park would seek to balance activities with partners such as RSPB, and the Lancashire Wildlife Trust,
with the needs of a growing Greater Manchester population and its requirement for leisure and
recreational access.
• There is an opportunity to retain the site’s capability for food production, whilst exploring new and
innovative methods of sustainable food production across the site.
Connectivity
• The park area could be accessible to large numbers of people – existing pathways improved, new
pathways created for pedestrians and cycles to aid penetration of the large area and create varied lengths
of looped routes.
• New way finding and signage to direct how people access the large Mosslands resource and navigate
around its many attractions – natural and man-made.
• Greenways – created to enhance visitor enjoyment – with new planting and seating areas.
Built elements
• New facility buildings could be provided to serve the needs of leisure users (such as toilets and shelters).
• There is the potential for a wildlife centre for recreation and education purposes.
Mossland Park conceptual masterplan

B
C
C
3
B 3
A
A
A
A
3
1
C
B
C
C
A
A2
2
2
2
2C C
7
6
5
4
Existing woodland - increased and
enhanced access and circulation
– management and maintenance
prescriptions agreed and programmed
with stakeholders
Peat land restoration – managed for species
rich grass/hedges/scrub and woodland
regeneration. Integrating paludiculture (wet
agriculture – cropping sphagnum) into trial area
Agricultural field boundaries – 5-10m edges
given over to natural regeneration of native
grasses; wildflowers; hedgerow pollinators
Managed farmland with food production
opportunities
Grassland habitat
Water bodies
Active leisure use zones
Agricultural fields – farmed agriculture
Country Park (by others) and former
Whitehead Landfill
C
B
STRATEGIC COMPONENTS:
1. Potential Wildlife Centre – incorporating wildlife,
ornithology interpretation; the Carbon Story;
Wildlife Rangers Centre with associated facilities
2. New Leisure Axis – with new woodland blocks
creating Activity/Event Pods - multifunctional -
with amenity grassland year-round use
3. Connection Axis – proposed pathways for cycle
and pedestrian use, spanning from the Wildlife
Centre and Activity Axis and connecting with the
strategic routes in the north and south
POSSIBLE LEISURE ZONES
4. Scout camp - new permanent location
5. Allotment/leisure gardens
6. Caravan site/picnic zone
7. Informal car parking for events/festivals with
picnic areas.
Woodland regeneration
Peat / mossland natural regeneration
Proposed woodland to strengthen and
connect existing woodlands
Potential development
A Wetland habitat- managed for species
diversity
7
7
5
7
7
D
D
D
D
D
D
E
E
WOODLANDS
HABITATS
Potential access points (pedestrian / cycle
and possibly vehicular)
Mossland Park conceptual masterplan
This conceptual masterplan shows possible ideas
for how the Mossland Park could look.

7. Delivering the parkland
Mossland Park could be delivered in spatial and
sequential stages. The proposed works follow the
theme of increased activation, enhanced biodiversity
and maximising connectivity. The park would be
facilitated through the building of new homes.
A long term strategy and commitment
7.1 Proposals for the delivery of this new parkland and its long term management will require a partnership
vehicle which combines the efforts and aligns the agendas of a range of stakeholders.
7.2 Proposals should be supported by an Integrated Management Plan which will set all the elements
down in a working action programme.
7.3 Below we set out an outline delivery process as a starting point for these discussions. It is split into
three parts:
Part 1 – Strategy and mechanism for delivery
• Agreement of overall concept and delivery mechanism including urban extensions and funding approach.
• Planning process to provide certainty and framework for delivery.
Part 2 – Themes: detailed proposals in broad categories
1. Access infrastructure – increased activation and interpretation
2. Habitat Enhancement – increased biodiversity of flora and fauna (wildlife)
3. Built Interventions – maximising connectivity whilst maintaining food production
Part 3 – Sequencing of the themed work
• Setting out works to the park that are not area focused but delivered in such a way that the area can be
used more effectively from the first phase, building to the final phase when all the additional facilities are
in place.

7.4 The extensive recreational and environmental
improvements envisaged to deliver Mossland Park
would be enabled through building of new homes
within easy reach of the new park.
7.5 This represents a strategic fit with the
Greater Manchester growth strategy, where new
sustainable development can be linked with green
infrastructure improvements.
7.6 The extent of new house building that
Peel envisages, to help deliver the vibrant green
infrastructure in the Mossland area takes the form
of three new sustainable urban extensions:
2. East of Irlam
3. Land south of East Lancashire Road,
Astley/Boothstown
7.7 Together, these new developments will provide
a total of around 5,000 new homes. This represents
a significant level of growth that will require additional
support in the way of new green infrastructure and
community facilities. A fantastic opportunity exists to
deliver the vision for Mossland Park through these
housing proposals.
7.8 The housing could generate both capital for initial
investment in Mossland Park (raised through a CIL
planning contribution and tariff per home) and revenue
for long-term maintenance which could be addressed
through several mechanisms, one of which could be
a service charge on the homes (enabled through a
planning process).
7.9 The Strategy and Mechanism for Delivery can be
secured through the planning process. Firstly, through
the identification and promotion of the Mossland Park
and the three sustainable urban extensions in the
Greater Manchester Spatial Framework.
7.10 Then, legal agreements could be used at the
consenting stage to link the delivery of new homes to
Mossland Park. This would cover three components of:
1. Land and access
2. A levy for investment
3. Service charge for management and maintenance.
Part 1 –
Strategy and mechanism
for delivery
Land south of East Lancashire Road, Astley/Boothstown
East of Irlam Illustrative Masterplan
Land at Parr Fold Illustrative Masterplan
Urban extension key plan
2
1
3

7.11 The proposals at Parr Fold envisage a series of linked residential neighbourhoods, which
offer opportunities for growth to the existing urban area in a way which is sustainable, accessible
and which promotes good placemaking principles. The development strategy comprises the
following components:
• 2,400 homes based around new residential neighbourhoods which form a natural extension
to the existing urban form of Walkden, Mossley Common and Tyldesley
• Community and retail provision to service the growth of a community
• On-site greenspace consisting of new woodland, greenways, parkland,
public greens and waterways
• A new north-south linear park, connecting the site with Mossland Park, sits at the heart of the
new residential communities and is formed around the existing landscape features of the area
• Enhanced access to stops on the Leigh-Salford-Manchester Busway
with potential for an additional stop.
1. Land at Parr Fold Illustrative Masterplan
2. East of Irlam
7.12 The East of Irlam site has a strategic location, adjoining the Greater Manchester
conurbation. The site would form a logical and natural extension of Irlam. The development
strategy comprises the following elements:
• 1,400 homes which would act as an extension to the community of Irlam
• Access/cycleways to Mossland Park to north
• Improved footpath and cycle links
• Network of footpaths and greenways through the development.
2. East of Irlam Illustrative Masterplan

3. Land south of East Lancashire Road, Astley/Boothstown Illustrative Masterplan
3. Land south of East Lancashire Road, Astley/Boothstown
7.13 The illustrative masterplan envisages new residential communities as extensions of Boothstown
and Astley sitting within a coherent, high quality and accessible landscape setting. The responsive
arrangement of the development area ensures that any future development is integrated within the
proposed landscape structure. The development strategy comprises the following components:
• 1,200 homes, formed around development parcels linked with the existing communities
at Astley and Boothstown
• A new vehicular spine road which provides access from the East Lancashire Road
to the heart of the new residential community
• Rejuvenating the canalside and providing a linear landscape and recreational
connection between Boothstown and Astley Green
• Access/cycleways to Mossland Park to south
• Potential marina linked to a linear park and Astley Mining Museum.

Existing access roads with improved
surfacing and signage New footpaths only
New road access and signage Existing footpaths – improved
Existing ‘road’ ways off Peel Land
Ownership
New cycleway / footpaths –
bollards and signage
Strategic Recreational Route
(Bridgewater Canal)
Access infrastructure – increased activation
7.14 The Mossland is currently a private place; there is very limited access to the site. Improvements
to, and extensions of, the existing public access arrangements to the Mossland landscape resource, are
therefore a primary objective of the park proposal. The proposals for the park will involve investment in access
infrastructure, with substantially increased activation for public use and enjoyment. The ultimate intention is
to create a linked and permeable network, which is safe and legible, and that allows for recreation and leisure
use along many different permutations of looped routes. All routes will be linked to the improvement of existing
access points to communities north and south of the Mosslands.
7.15 Works envisaged for access and infrastructure include:
• The improvement to existing footpaths within the landscape – widening where appropriate (to allow joint
cycleway use), resurfacing as appropriate to the use intended and the character of location, plus provision
of way-finding signage in selected locations.
• New footpath/cycleways added to the existing pathway and expanded Rights of Way system, surfacing as
appropriate to the use intended and the character of location, plus provision of way-finding signage.
• Improvements to the existing (lane) network in selected locations – involving repairs to road make up and
general resurfacing through partnership works; plus way finding signage and lighting in selected locations.
• Limited building of new roads within the park envelope to link with proposed built interventions; with integral
footpath cycleways, a country park character and smart lighting provision.
Part 2 – Themes

Habitat enhancement – increased biodiversity and productive landscape
7.16 Mossland Park would cover a very large area of important natural and man-made landscapes. Their
significance and sensitivity is important to many agencies and interested parties. The Mossland and its
landscape qualities are important for their own sake, as an historical remnant, but also a major opportunity for
improved provision of public open space locally (for Wigan and Salford), and importantly as a potential new
park in the distribution of destination parks in the Greater Manchester context as well. Many of its habitats are
already recognised for their qualities and designated as such, supporting a wide range of locally and nationally
significant wildlife. Mossland Park could absorb existing aspirations where possible from all parties interested in
wildlife and habitats, and seek to surpass expectations, by increasing biodiversity across a range of land uses
and habitat areas.
7.17 Opportunities and interventions envisaged for habitat and biodiversity enhancement include:
• Meet the aspirations and objectives of the City of Trees initiative – including managing woodland and
adding value; educating young people by growing or adopting trees on the park – plus active interpretation
and outdoor classroom events; an agreed plan that Greater Manchester can build into its Spatial
Plan; substantial new tree planting provision; a new Integrated Management Plan for the park, where
regeneration management proposals can deliver sustainable woodland habitats.
• Manage regeneration of habitats on the reclaimed peat land/Mosslands – by general maintenance actions
(e.g. clearance of invasive weeds, scarification/overseeding) plus new hot spot planting areas of trees,
shrubs and grasses to encourage habitat and natural community development.
• In key locations encourage woodland domination by selective and interventional management practice.
• New pondscapes, with associated wet scrub/woodland, creating fringing of existing natural habitats
around future Visitor Centre/activity axis.
• Manage existing grassland zones in areas agreed with tenant farmers to encourage species rich grassland
and/or scrub tree woodland.
• Food production - maintained throughout enhancement processes; with farming units encouraged to
investigate sustainable production themes and practices
• Agricultural field boundaries – field edges taken out of crop production by agreement and given over to
natural regeneration (and some localised hot spot planting interventions) of hedgerow flora species of
grasses and wildflowers, shrubs and trees – to increase biodiversity; achieved through agreement with
tenant farmers.
• Wildlife interpretation and access for local communities.
• Encourage and protect native species of flora and fauna to establish and populate/re-populate
the landscape.

Built interventions – maximising connectivity
7.18 Sitting alongside the ambitious proposals for a new leisure access network, and managed biodiverse
habitats, are ideas for designed built interventions. These interventions would assist in enhancing the visitor
experience and educational role, by providing the necessary facilities and activity zones that a destination
park of this size requires.
7.19 The new interventions envisaged, include:
• Facilities – toilets, shelters, interpretation, serviced from road/lane.
• Other peripheral woodland planting is proposed along the north, east and west edges of Botany Bay
Wood, to assist in buffering the woodland and offering additional perimeter length to aid biodiversity
and flora community dispersal.
• New centre – at the heart of the site, sitting on the two new key axis; with new access road circulation,
dedicated parking, visitor and interpretation centre (for both the Carbon story and the Natural History story
– soil, fauna and flora – and man’s influence and responsibility for both), café; changing facilities; toilets;
bike hire; small scale retail opportunities (shop). This could be centred at Malkins Wood Farm.
• A range of areas of new species rich amenity grassland is envisaged around the Park; intended to allow
informal, passive leisure uses such as picnicking.

Phase 3: Conservation and finishing the story
7.21 Phase 3 would be centred on conservation – further consolidation of biodiversity ideas and maximising
the links to existing and new communities in the north around Boothstown over the Bridgewater Canal and
in the south at Irlam via bridge access over the M62. In addition there would be built intervention to deliver
facilities to make the park a true destination for Greater Manchester. Activities in Phase 3 could include:
• Final improvements to the reach and accessibility for public leisure and recreation access by upgrading
more pathways and creating new strategic links
• Further rejuvenation of peatlands, encouraged by localised (and protected) tree planting cores spread
across areas (denoted by arrows) and encouraging managed natural regeneration
• Additional key pathways south of rail line improved, reinforcing intersecting grids of long distance loops
for cycles and walking
• Continue way marking and signage to indicate and direct access and movement
• Further extend the biodiversity field edge regime into all previous areas, as agreed (negotiated) with tenants
• Create the new Centre, sitting on the key axis; with access road circulation, dedicated parking, visitor
and interpretation centre (for both the Carbon Landscape ‘story’ and the natural history story – soil, fauna
and flora, and man) café; changing facilities; toilets; bike hire; small scale retail opportunities
• New amenity grasslands and woodland blocks created close to new centre to accommodate formal and
informal leisure, recreation and play
• Food production maintained through retained and revitalised farming units, investigating ideas for
sustainable food production and diversity.
Phase 1: Access and activation
7.20 Phase 1 would be about access and activation of this important landscape edge of Greater
Manchester, which has historically been “out of bounds” to the general public for many decades, due to
its limited rights of way, severance by infrastructure and particular land uses and industrial operations.
Activities in Phase 1 could include:
• Enhancement of areas of natural habitat
• Realising the potential for recreation and leisure, filling this obvious strategic gap in the green
infrastructure network
• Creating several safe pathways into the Mossland, by upgrading existing paths or footpath/cycleways
in key locations – creating a variety of looped routes
• Upgrading existing canal bridges for main access ways into the new park from north
• Initiating a biodiversity field edge regime in agreed (negotiated) locations with tenants
• Rejuvenating peatlands, encouraged by localised (and protected) tree planting cores spread across
area and encouraging managed natural regeneration
• Beginning the new pondscape edge treatment to Botany Wood/Worsley Moss and as new soft
transition/buffer edge to main woodland zone; populate with seating areas
• Improving key pathways south of rail line to allow long distance loops for cycles and walking
Phase 2
• Creating new woodland blocks on the key new intervention axis with associated zones for amenity use
– leisure and/or recreation uses
• Introducing new facility buildings to service the users, providing toilets and shelter
• Creating a new brand identity for the park using branding, hosting events and marketing campaigns
• Beginning way marking and signage to indicate and direct access and movement
• Introducing activity controlled smart lighting (which lights only when proximity sensors a trigger) along
main routes or safety and security encouraging all day and year round use.
Part 3 – Potential development sequence

Existing route through Chat Moss

8. Socio-economic benefits
Community Benefits
8.1 The Mossland Park could deliver significant
benefits for Greater Manchester. It can help meet
an identified need to deliver new attractive and
sustainable homes. The residential development will
be delivered through a number of garden suburbs;
combined they could deliver around 5,000 new
homes with a population of around 12,000 people.
The
new homes could also create a diverse housing
supply, including a mix of open market and affordable
homes. Those communities would have direct
access to the Mossland Park.
8.2 The parkland would create a large natural
resource for passive recreation such as walking,
jogging and cycling and could include nature walks.
It could therefore support Greater Manchester’s
promotion of improved health.
Environmental Benefits
8.3 At the heart of the proposals is a green
infrastructure strategy, the benefits of which could
positively affect Greater Manchester as a whole. The
Mossland could include over 1,000ha of accessible
and enhanced park. Alongside improvements to
cycleways and waterbodies the green infrastructure
strategy is dynamic and multifunctional.
8.4 The existing natural assets could also be
enhanced, improving the biodiversity of the wider
area. This would take the form of tree planting,
wetland management, hedgerow enhancement and
landscape conservation making a species-rich wildlife
park – offering protection.
Economic Benefits
8.4 Mossland Park could have a major positive
impact on the local and regional economy. The
infrastructure investment could create new jobs.
The proposed mix of homes could also encourage
economically active households and therefore
increased levels of disposable income to the area.
8.5 The increased population could also significantly
boost the public revenue.
The unique combination of factors at Mossland
Park provides the opportunity to create a new
western focal area for Greater Manchester. Green
Infrastructure becomes a key driver for growth and
competitiveness in this context.

The proposed new housing and parkland
could deliver significant social, economic
and environmental benefits for the local
communities and borough as a whole.
Of residents projected to be
employed in higher skilled and
income professional occupations
£31.7m
Annual household expenditure
on leisure goods and services
Uplift in gross annual income
from new residents
Annual household
retail expenditure
Sustainable travel
Busway to City Centre and improved
footpath and cycle routes
New and improved public open
space and community woodland
£870.7m
Investment in construction of
the proposed development
171 gross
FTE (Full Time Equivalent)
temporary job per annum on
site during construction
(circa 50 years)
128 direct
FTE temporary jobs per annum
64 indirect/induced
FTE net temporary jobs per annum
£56.6m36% £49.9m
£8m
£6.3m
£9m
GVA Economic output
contribution per annum
£325.3m
GVA Economic output
contribution per annum
Construction Phase
Operational Phase – Residential Benefits
Operational Phase – Commercial Benefits
7,000 gross
FTE jobs supported annually
Employment density for B8 use informed by AMION (March 2012) ‘Employment, Gross Value Added and Business Rates Impact Paper’.
This evidence and resulting employment density will be updated and re-assessed going forward.
New Homes Bonus
collectively to Salford City
Council and Wigan Council
Increase in Council Tax
revenue per annum collectively
to Salford City Council and
Wigan Council

Appendix

Appendix 1
Context analysis of the wider Mossland landscape
The Mossland area is a unique environment within Greater Manchester.
Assessing the diverse range of on site features helps to understand how it
can contribute to a nationally significant landscape.
The Mosslands area was originally part of an
extensive area of lowland raised bog. Intensive
drainage of the area commenced in the latter half of
the 19th century to ‘reclaim’ the land for arable and
horticultural production.
There has also been a history of mineral extraction
mostly peat with some coal, clay and sand with some
restoration having taken place.
More recently trends have seen the fragmentation
of agricultural land with commercial turf production,
equine and leisure interests. A few small remnants of
semi-natural mosslands remain which are protected
for their biodiversity value
The area is relatively low lying with limited relief and
remains sparsely populated with very few buildings.
The key landscape and ecological characteristics of
the Mosslands are:
• One of the largest concentrations of lowland
raised bog habitat in the North West of England
• Field boundaries across much of the landscape
are formed by the extensive network of drainage
ditches and hedgerows
• High quality - Grade 1 and 2 agricultural
land which has created a very distinct open and
expansive landscape character
• Species rich grass lands and semi natural
mossland
• Significant areas of woodland including Botany
Bay Wood, the largest area of woodland in
Greater Manchester
• Canals of historic importance – still in operation
and much treasured by locals and visitors alike
alongside characterful industrial remnants such
as redundant coal mine buildings
• Important areas within Greater Manchester for
farmland and wetland birds. There is a large
heronry in Botany Bay Wood
• A number of SSSIs, Local Nature Sites,
Scheduled Monuments and Listed buildings.
The plan opposite shows the range of designations
that exist in and around the proposed Mossland
Park. It also highlights suggested new management
zones, drawing upon the work of the Mosslands
Project. These suggest opportunities to link some of
the fragmented sites through the creation of specific
biodiversity zones/corridors and restoration of current
peat extraction sites, along with key zones of focused
hydrological management.
Zones identified in Mosslands Project – The Vision – Mosslands
Action Group 2007
A. Landscape and ecology

B. Green infrastructure
The potential for the Moss to act as a key part
of Greater Manchester’s green infrastructure
is already well understood. In assessing its
specific features we can begin to see how this
might be realised.
Several recent reports have identified the Mosslands
area as being part of the Greater Manchester wide
Green Infrastructure framework.
The assessment is contained within ‘Towards
a Green Infrastructure Framework for Greater
Manchester’ (TEP 2008). The Mosslands would sit in
an outer girdle of sites ringing Greater Manchester,
creating a connected landscape, environmental and
social resource of great value. The report goes on
to categorise the following key green infrastructure
features of the Mosslands:
• Woodland areas, hedgerow and mosslands
representing a ‘High Present Carbon Store’
• Disused land representing a ‘Low Present Carbon
Store’ – now subject to Country park proposals
• A series of waterbodies, including the canal
corridor to the north and stream to the west
of the area
The assessment also makes reference to the
proximity of the Mosslands to strategic employment
areas and priority regeneration areas, highlighting
the potential reinforcing role that GI can have in the
development of a sustainable economic growth
strategy across the area.

C. Vehicular transport and movement
The natural features, historic use and private
ownership of the Mossland have rendered it relatively
inaccessible at present. For such a large and open
area movement routes primarily pass around rather
than through.
It is severed or bounded by strategic regional
movement infrastructure:
• The Manchester-Liverpool rail link cuts across
east-west with a few local links. No station is
present in the area but access can be gained
at nearby Patricroft.
• To the south and east the M62 corridor passes
by with a number of crossing points.
• To the east the M60 ring-road borders the area
with two key junctions.
At a more local level the A580 runs to the north and
provides a key connector to a series of neighbouring
areas. Connections into the Mosslands area are
local access routes or agricultural tracks with traffic
capacity.
Rail links to the area run through neighbouring
communities with stations to the north (Swinton,
Walkden and Atherton) and south (Irlam, Flixton
and Urmston). Construction of an improved Leigh-
Salford-Manchester busway is complete which will
provide further sustainable transport options for this
in the Mosslands area.
Any changes to the urban structure in this location
alongside parkland proposals will need to respond
to this existing movement context. In this way growth
can be harnessed to help address local connectivity
issues and contribute to more sustainable movement
patterns across the area.

D. Pedestrian and recreational movement
The sensitive and private nature of the Moss
combined with strategic transport corridors
through the area has an impact on local walking
and cycling patterns.
It has been recognised for some time that access
into the Mosslands is poor both in terms of the
number of access points and the quality of those
access arrangements. This makes large parts of the
Mosslands inaccessible.
The following diagram clearly shows the voids in the
Mosslands area for Public Rights of Way or even
recognised informal pathways – particularly north of
the main rail line and south of the Bridgewater Canal.
These are vast tracts of land with significant potential
for enhanced public access and enjoyment.
Clearly there are also significant obstacles to creating
a truly inter-linked pedestrian and cycle system. The
numerous wetland areas which create east west
linkage issues and the main rail line which running
east/west has historically (since Stevenson severed
it in 1850) split the Mosslands in two making easy
crossing difficult and only one level crossing currently
exists. New proposals need to be generated that
balance wetland agricultural issues with access and
circulation demands.
Peel recognise that although access and circulation
improvements are needed, this has to be balanced
against the requirements and management activities
of an active farming community.

E. Existing edges
The interface between the Moss and surrounding
areas is varied. An understanding of the varying
challenges of providing access is needed to deliver
an integrated parkland environment.
The Mossland is vast and interfaces with a range of
environments and infrastructure. As a result we see
an array of edge conditions, highlighted in the plan
opposite, which pose varying challenges for access
and legibility.
Physical permeability
Much of the area is affected by infrastructure such
as the railways, canal and motorway networks. As
a result there are many impermeable edges limiting
connection to and enjoyment of the open space.
In other locations existing development borders the
area, in particular residential development, which
offers a number of potential connection points and
direct access for residents.
Visual permeability
In terms of visual and character connectivity across
existing boundaries the Mosslands does allow easy
and pleasant views into many attractive areas.
The limited relief and open nature of the landscape
permit good medium range views. Despite this, the
general feeling when within the Mosslands is one of
remote seclusion.
As a means of maximising the legibility of the
Mosslands a new system of way finding and signage
improvements should be instigated.

F. Proximity to local centres
The area has potential to link into a range of
existing communities and local centres. The
Moss has potential to act as a connector between
these, contributing to a more cohesive place at
a strategic level.
Walkability and bikeability are key drivers for access
to new green infrastructure, and its short and long
term success, in making the resource available to as
many people as possible. Local driving connections
will also be important to creating a balanced and
functioning place.
The diagram opposite shows 1km, 2km and 5km
radii from all local centres around the Mosslands
boundary. This equates to a 5, 10 and 45 minute
walk; or in case of the 5km radii, a 10 minute
car journey.
The overlapping extents indicate the potential for inter
connectivity. It also indicates that there is a strong
potential to improve access and interconnections,
through the implementation
of improvements to the access network.
The potential for a ‘regional park’ at the heart of a ring
of local centres around the Mossland Park can only
help those centres. Additional local expenditure on
goods and services arising from the delivery of 5,000
new homes at the interface between the Mossland
Park and the existing urban area will increase land
demand and may help sustain and grow local retail
and service businesses.
The Mossland Park may itself also attract additional
visitor expenditure to the area over time which may
benefit local centres.

Parkland 1_Mossland Park Vision and Concept Statement_lowres

Parkland 1_Mossland Park Vision and Concept Statement_lowres

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

What's hot

What's hot (17)

Viewers also liked

Viewers also liked (9)

Similar to Parkland 1_Mossland Park Vision and Concept Statement_lowres

Similar to Parkland 1_Mossland Park Vision and Concept Statement_lowres (20)

Parkland 1_Mossland Park Vision and Concept Statement_lowres