THE LEVEN PROJECT – RIVER PARK
THE RIVER PARK concept imagE
LOCATION : FIFE, SCOTLAND
DATE : 2020 – 2021
PROJECT TYPE : MASTERPLANNING / PUBLIC PARK
PHASE OF WORK : CONCEPT DESIGN (RIBA STAGE 2)
The River Park is the first project of the Leven Programme, a large scale multi-agency restoration initiative aimed at improving social, ecological and economic conditions for communities within the River Leven catchment area in Fife and Perth & Kinross.
The flagship project focuses on Levenmouth where the river meets the sea. Iglu have created a concept design masterplan and landscape framework which includes an integrated active travel network and river park within the final 5km stretch of the river valley before it empties into the Firth of Forth.
THE RIVER PARK concept imagE
CONCEPT DESIGN MASTERPLAN
The River Park will be an accessible, attractive and ecologically thriving, biodiverse public park for local communities and visitors alike to enjoy.
Six strategic interventions situated around key crossing points will provide meaningful social spaces with new facilities and references to the unique industrial and natural heritage of the surrounding area.
THE RIVER LEVEN
WETLAND AT BURN MILL DAM
THE FORMER TIMBERYARD
THE RIVER PARK CONCEPT IMAGE AND PROJECT PRINCIPLES
The River Leven runs through the valley and is flanked by arable land, woodland, grasslands and wetlands rich in ecology, habitats and history.
The river corridor is protected both by the steep valley formation of the landscape and the generous distance from neighbouring housing developments.
The concept design masterplan was shaped by the establishment of masterplan principles to guide the process from vision to delivery.
Following extensive engagement with the community, both online and in-person, Iglu in collaboration with landscape architects Anaïs Chanon and Norman Villeroux produced an animation which illustrated the concept design proposals for the River Leven Park from the perspective of a visitor arriving by train.
Since the Visioning stage of the project Iglu have extensively walked, analysed and surveyed the existing path network comprising tarmac, concrete, bare earth and grass routes. Using the existing desire lines as a basis to establish an upgraded path network for the river park, new routes and connections have also been sense checked with the community. A hierarchy of routes has been rationalised with proposals for shared-use primary, secondary and tertiary paths and non-cycling routes. Mown grass paths also have a place within this network.
PATH TYPOLOGIES AXONOMETRIC
A tiny forest is a dense, rapid growing native woodland about the size of a tennis court with a planted mix of many native species, suitable to the particular site conditions. They bring the benefits of a forest – reconnecting people with nature and raising awareness, helping to mitigate the impacts of climate change by storing carbon and soaking up water, as well as providing nature-rich habitat patches to support urban wildlife – right into the heart of our cities and urban spaces.
Iglu helped to secure funding from NatureScot to establish a tiny forest at Muiredge Park, a grassland adjacent to Levenmouth Academy. In collaboration with representatives from NatureScot, The Conservation Volunteers and teachers and pupils from the school over 500 native trees were planted in one day in 2022. The pupils have been recording the annual growth of the trees since being planted and reporting their findings back to Earthwatch Europe who allocate tiny forest funding across the continent.
PROPOSED KEY SECTIONS
PROPOSED ACTIVE TRAVEL BRIDGE AT THE BURN MILL DAM
PROPOSED BIRD HIDE AT THE WETLAND