start-with-the-park

94 Start with the park
Awards
Successful green spaces are a cause
for celebration and congratulation.
Don’t take them for granted: use
award schemes such as the Green
Flag Award and Green Pennant Award
to spread the word, give credit where
it is due, and inspire others to emulate
the example. A list of awards can be
found in the appendix.
Developing awareness and skills
Every stage of the process – from
initiation to conception, design,
realisation and maintenance –
depends on people with the right
skills, knowledge and attitudes.
Awareness-raising and training
needs to be planned in the light of
an understanding of who requires
training, what skills are required and
what methods of training are
appropriate. Parks need people
need parks, published by CABE
Space, highlights the acute skills
shortages in park planning,
management and maintenance. 24
The fourth dimension
A good plan takes time to develop.
Public realm projects can provide
early wins and provide a quality
benchmark for all future developments.
‘The most
important thing
is to start’
Evert Verhagen, project manager of
Westerpark in Amsterdam, sums up
the key lesson of 15 years’ work