I have had issues trying to get a couple of small parks approved. So, the question is, when is a park, a park?
Two rejected examples below, to me, a parks. Not, like, national parks (because how would you know if one of those is already a Waymarker, 50 miles away), but like, local, little parks for playing sport, sitting in on a nice day ect.
The first is a relatively big one, running along some sand dunes. Very distinct, cut grass for people to be on. Within the park is a dedicated playground. There is also a benched picnic area and it has its own car park. I get that is isnt the most impired photo, but their own criteria says that doesnt really matter. Perhaps because its all open, with no fencing?
The second is a smaller park nearby. This is surrounded by fencing, but again, very clearly a large patch of grass, maintained for peoples recreation. There is a small soccer goal on it.
I see you pasted this clarification I was going to address in one of your supporting photos, so are aware of it:
I don’t have suggestions for how to improve the photos since I don’t know the area, but neither one is clearly recognizable to me as a park. What I register in the first one is some grass with a puddle, and a fence with some trees in the second. Is there any way to take a photo that shows an entrance? Do you have links you can provide in the supporting section that show that these areas are reserved for public use as a park?
Well, i mean, when reviewing i expect the reviewer to look at the ariel views on maps, as part of the verification process to check on the area, rather than hoping to photograph a whole park within a single frame, and in doing so see that they are parks
By that same logic, the photo niantic gives as a good example is just a patch of grass with a tree in it
Suggest you try nominating the components you mention. The playground, soccer goals, picnic tables etc. It does show a “Dunes Park” on the map. It would be handy if there were signs.
As a reviewer, I absolutely do look at everything available to me. As a submitter, I assume other reviewers will just look at the main photo to decide.
The small park already has the goal posts as a wayspot. As that’s all that is basically I think it would be difficult to have a separate one for the park area as a whole.
The second one is a similar story with the picnic area and play area as way spots.
Without a sign designating a park it will be hard to get something accepted
For me it is when the park has things like signs, exercise equipment and maybe a field to do whatever you want. I wouldn’t go off of there being a named park on google maps as anybody can add locations on there.
If i read the english governments page correctly about greenspaces it says that people have to have access to greenspaces in a 15 minute distance, this could be anything from a public footpath, a field with a tree in it (like some of your nominations) a path that goes along some type of river or canal etc, so by my understanding local councils will usually just have loads of greenspace that is as cheap as possible so they can abide by government rules. What i mean by cheap greenspaces is so the council wont have to buy actual structures and maintain them as much like signs, play area equipment, football goals, build buildings for cafes/toilets/museums, concrete a path for easier walking/cycling etc.
So i guess if thare are things within the park, people would not also accept the park itself?
The park would have to be just green space and nothing else to be acceptable?
With each example, the waypoints are specific items within the parks. My attempts where for the parks themselves, as a whole.
I absolutely would accept a name sign for a park as a whole, if you can show it. I found a named “The Dunes Park” but not a “Fountain Head Park”. These larger parks that have multiple amenities inside them usually have signs here.
The smaller “park” only appears to be a field, so I do not see that as deserving of a separate designation when the entire park IS the field.
They called it “Fountain Head Park” and this sign is for “Fountain Head Car Park.” I can’t find any other “Fountain Head Park”. A rules sign can be used to represent a park. There is definitely a picnic area there.
There is also a sign on the toilets, but I didn’t want to suggest that one. Do you think this would be better received there?
I am unsure on the guidelines around car parlk signs, especially in parks. I am willing to stand corrected, as I see them differenty to Park entry signs. If the guidelines say accept, fair play, but I am struggling.
This is part of Northumberland County Council. The so called “Dune Park” is probably a tag created for Google.
It is part of the Blyth and Seaton Sluice Links and Foreshore (Nearly 5K long I believe). The dunes part of this, is a recognised LNR, a Local Nature Reserve. It features plant life that is important on a national scale.
Fortunately it features a walking trail (with disabled access)
So no to a Dunes Park. Yes to a dedicated walking trail through the area
So totes this part of the area is distinct in its own right. But we need to be careful as the dunes are very fragile. So people need to steered to the footpaths. Sand dunes and their vegetation once damaged take a while to recover.
Ohhh hard one. Always about the evidence. The nuances of the area it is set in. Other POIs around the patch of green etc etc.
Overall
I cannot tell if POIs already exist. But there is a host of other POIs that could exist. Playground, picnic area, coastal walking trail, pubs, museums, cafes etc etc From Seaton Sluice to the Astley Arms (the bus shelter opposite does it have any art in it Street View says yes))…And up the road is Seaton Delaval Hall (now that whole house, grounds, features, chapel etc should be a hot bed of opportunity…Nail all the low hanging fruit first. If you have not already done them
your second “park”
If I was reviewing it. And I looked up Google Street view it shows a house with no fencing. So is this just an unfenced part of someone’s yard. Don’t know. Someone people may have seen that.
I would trawl every bit of council evidence that this is a listed community reserve/park. And then link to it in the supporting evidence. The only way I have ever got small reserves approved is with evidence that it is recognised by the LGA (Council) as a community space.
And I stress this bit @5Phil3 what you and I consider a slam dunk does not mean others will. Expecting others who volunteer their time to review this to do the hard work on our nominations is a tall ask. It is therefor us, the nominators, that have to do the hard work. Right photos, title, description, do the research, add the links to that evidence. Just because an aerial view shows green means little. It is just one part of the evidence that needs to be presented. This first one is a patch of green amongst another larger patch of green that is already park. So we have to work harder to make sure we provide everything that distinguishes it and meets all the criteria…
