Theme Five: Making The Most Of The Green Environment
There are three parts to this theme.
1 The Necklace Park
The central Vision for Durham incorporates the concept of a “Necklace Park” which aims to transform the valley of the River Wear to and through the City as a major open space asset. In this concept the “pendant” on the necklace is the Peninsula and the Gorge, and the “clasp” where the City centre fabric and the River come together is the Walkergate River front.
2 Green Landscape in the City centre
There is already a wealth of green space through the heart of the City centre but it is unconnected, uninviting and daunting to prospective users. It can be much better accessed, used and managed to be integrated as part of a wider urban “park” connecting the countryside right through the City with the River as the central feature.
3 The Botanic Gardens
The Botanic Gardens draw 50,000 visitors a year, despite limited publicity and relatively poor accessibility. The Botanic Gardens could be a much better visitor attraction for the City. New opportunities are opening up, due to the construction of the Park and Ride site adjacent to the Gardens, and the funding of a new Gateway to the Gardens.
