Lochside Masterplan - South Ayrshire Council

7.4 Play and leisure
The outline design suggest ways i which the empty open areas of grassland can be enhanced
by incorporating design features which add to the use and enjoyment of the space while being
easy to maintain, robust and long lasting.
The key features are
TREE BELTS TO DEFINE SPACES
New tree belts to screen the adjoining factories, form smaller scaled " outdoor rooms" and
provide a degree of shelter fro wind. The edge of the grassland will be planted with a variety of
native trees to enhance the visual and environmental amenity of the area. The additional
planting will allow an increase in biodiversity while creating a more parkland setting
PLAY AND ACTIVITY AREAS
Within the newly defined landscaped spaces a range of activity and play structures will be
formed. These will aim to provide activity spaces for different age groups across the open space
to complement other areas in Lochside.
By using robust heavy materials a maintenance free and vandal proof landscape can be formed
to enhance the amenity of the new spaces. These can be in the form of man made objects such
as concrete rings and more natural features such as rocks and trees.
Detail design development through community consultation will allow a new park setting to be
realised
A NEW APPROACH TO SPORTS
At the heart of the new park will be a community sports ground built round the Whitletts Victoria
Junior Football Club. A new current generation artificial football pitch will be formed to provide an
all year activity ground.
This pitch will be supported by new club and community facilities for football and community
activities. developed alongside the existing activity centre this new community sports facility
offers the chance for greatly improved indoor and outdoor sports and football.
The artificial pitch will be complemented by a newly graded grass pitch providing additional
opportunity for sports and football activity accessible to all the community.