THE LEVEN PROJECT RIVER PARK ROUTES
LOCATION : FIFE, SCOTLAND
DATE : 2022 – ONGOING
PROJECT TYPE : ACTIVE TRAVEL NETWORK
COLLABORATION : NARRO ASSOCIATES / HARLEY HADDOW / THOMSON GRAY / BESPOKE ATELIER
PHASE OF WORK : TECHNICAL DESIGN (RIBA STAGE 4)
The River Park Routes project is part of the Levenmouth Connectivity Project and is being delivered by Green Action Trust, and designed by Iglu Studio, as part of the Leven Programme. The proposed River Park Routes are off-road active travel links within the River Leven valley, designed for shared use by walkers, wheelers and cyclists and comprising approximately 10.5km of 3-4m wide paths. The River Park Routes project area is approximately 130 hectares in size and includes a variety of diverse habitats including woodland, scrubland, grassland and wetlands within which the active travel network will weave. The project is the first national development in Fife forming part of the Central Scotland Green Network.
The 10.5km active travel network passes through a wide variety of landscapes, from woodlands to wetlands, alongside the river, at the top of the river valley, from urban post-industrial spaces to rural grasslands within the floodplain. The planting proposals have been carefully selected in collaboration with ecologist Leonie Alexander to complement existing habitats with native species included in new wildflower meadows, hedgerows and woodland. In addition a large foraging area has been created with edible, native species for wildlife and the local community.
THE RIVER LEVEN
The designs for the RPR include a 1.5km long riverside walkway allowing improved access alongside the River Leven and a new proposed bird hide situated at the wetland to provide opportunities for observing wildlife. The bird hide and artistic panels will be adorned with patterns created by regular collaborators Bespoke Atelier who have held creative design workshops with the local community.
In addition, a series of new and diverse high quality play spaces are proposed following co-design workshops with students from Levenmouth Academy. The aim of the model-making workshop was to provide a platform for both boys and girls to creatively explore the design of play areas and develop their own proposals and ideas. These new spaces include a wide variety of different play elements, from pump tracks to informal natural play features, and shelters which provide opportunities for socialising and relaxing.
The River Park Routes active travel network will provide a series of distinctive gateway features at key entrances to the River Park (see masterplan above). The gateways vary in materiality depending on the surrounding context: the Phase 1 area shown above is located in a post-industrial area with a heavy presence of manufacturing yards so the gateway feature is proposed to be constructed of corten steel and takes the form of the old footbridge over the lade.
The River Park Routes will also provide a large number of diverse seating areas with different types of benches with armrests and backrests for all abilities (see above). The benches will be constructed from a range of robust materials such as steel, stone and timber beams and will include engraved patterns and references to the local heritage.
