Friends of Union Terrace Gardens Proposal

INTRODUCTION

Union Terrace Gardens are at the very heart of our City; our vision is that the Gardens can exist as a popular everyday destination for Aberdonians as well as an exciting destination for visitors.

• Key areas of concern - Access, Facilities and Security.

• 4 Themes – ‘Access & Connectivity’, ‘Wellbeing’, ‘Creativity & Culture’ and ‘Growth’.

• Proposals include Big Projects and Small Projects, and whilst all these projects bought together would create an evolutionary change for the Gardens, each one would standalone as an incremental deliverable.

ACCESS & CONNECTIVITY We see the Gardens as a pivotal hub in the city centre. With the proposed pedestrianisation of Union Street and office developments at the Holburn St end we believe that delivering commuters and visitors into the city via UTG is a key Big ‘Access & Connectivity’ Project.

• A railway halt/station for commuter trains to deliver people into the

Gardens on the north side of Union Street for rapid onward passage to Union St, Denburn and city buses – see NESTRANS’ Rail Action Plan.

• Lifts next to the station and HMT to gain access directly to street level. • Enclosed footbridges at either end to provide easy access to Belmont St

and Schoolhill. • A covered walkway from UTG station going south under Union Bridge to

allow safe passage to The Green and Union Square.

Small ‘Access & Connectivity’ Projects: • Access ramps entering the Gardens at the William Wallace

statue and continuing past the Victorian toilets to ground level.

• Clear Access signage at the HMT ground level entrance. • Designated Disabled and Parent Parking spaces in the

current HMT Car Park. • Ask First Bus to route a bus through Denburn Rd. • Resurfacing of all current pathways. • Repairs of all stairs. • Handrails on the stairs at the HMT end.

WELLBEING Wellbeing in the Gardens is paramount to overcoming perceived safety issues and attracting more visitors.

Big ‘Wellbeing’ Projects that will deliver a new feel to the space include good lighting, functional toilets and a place for refreshments. • Review of the lighting using a mix of effects that change with the

seasons. • A modern unisex and accessible toilet block on the lower level near

HMT, and restoration of the existing Victorian Toilets to a useable standard to provide facilities at the Union St end.

• The Bandstand Café - a multifunctional structure on the lower level for coffee and snacks during the day, includes a small event space and is easily attached to a much larger non-permanent structure. The area in front of this includes a proportion of hard landscaping for year round use.

Small ‘Wellbeing’ Projects:

• A designated Park Warden for UTG, or UTG as a regular beat for Community Wardens.

• Signs at all street entrances to the Gardens, detailing access points and information on the garden.

• A temporary coffee facility on the lower level .

• Tree lanterns and coloured Christmas lights - this winter .

CULTURE & CREATIVITY We see the restoration of the toilets and development of the arches (arcade) as an essential Big ‘Culture & Creativity’ Project. • Restore the Victorian toilets to provide facilities at the Union Street end of

the Gardens and a tourist attraction. • Repair and clean the balustrades and granite facades. • Enclose alternate arches and develop into Artisan workspaces, with the

large central Arch as a Gallery. • Other arches are left open to provide all weather seating with fixed tables

and chairs and free Wi-Fi access, to encourage year round use of the space.

• Useable event space is part of the multifunctional structure on the lower level. The Bandstand Café provides flexible cultural space that includes a big screen option.

Small ‘Culture & Creativity’ Projects: • A year round Calendar of Events • Big screen entertainment – opera, football matches etc • Local performers to play on Saturday and Sundays • Additional seating and benches, all weather • Annual lighting festival. • Regular markets in the Gardens – International, Farmers, Christmas,

Craft/Vintage • Re-instate the draughts boards • Move the steam train at Seaton Park to the Turntable in UTG • Planters on the Turntable • List the Gardens in entirety • Invite HRH Prince Charles to become a Patron of the Gardens • Commission a sculpture by renowned Scottish public artist Andy Scott.

GROWTH Whilst many people enjoy the quiet, contemplative spaces, a Big ‘Growth’ Project is the creation of a small railway themed play area called The Trainy Park, and a review of the current planting that will encourage greater horticultural variety and wildlife diversity. • A climbing frame, swings and safe slides embedded in the natural

slopes at the Union Street end . • A fun kinetic spider or midge sculpture climbing down the walls. • A renowned garden designer to work alongside the current Gardening

team to develop a design and planting plan to respect the iconic elements, but blend them with a forward looking ‘must visit’ scheme

Small ‘Growth’ Projects: • Tree canopy pruning • Volunteer days to support the gardeners • Primary school planting trips • Plant more trees • Bird watching platforms • Wildlife friendly planting • Bat and bird nesting boxes • Commission a floral sculpture or a floral wall • Include a water feature around the Corby Well • Green screening up the middle of the dual carriageway • Painting or attractive screening on the railway wall • A walkway in the treeline

FUNDING

• Lottery – Parks for People, Access for All, HLF, Creative Scotland.

• Matched by Aberdeen City Council.

• Aberdeen Common Good Fund.

• Friends of UTG - for small specific projects.

• Business sponsorship – for specific projects.

• Bequests.

CONCLUSION

There is a general feeling that Union Terrace Gardens should not be considered in isolation and those connections to other civic spaces (such as His Majesty’s Theatre, Cowdray Hall, the Art Gallery and any further development of the Denburn and specifically Woolmanhill) should inform future decision making.

• We propose that Union Terrace Gardens becomes an everyday part of city life, realised through 4 key areas – ‘Access & Connectivity’, ‘Wellbeing’, ‘Culture & Creativity’, and ‘Growth’.

• That a combination of both Big and Small Projects will deliver this evolutionary change.

• Citizen participation and involvement at all age levels - via volunteering, fund raising or presence - is key to ensure the future of Destination UTG.