Peckham Rye Park Consultation - Redevelopment of Bowling Green

[AylwardS]

On my walk round Peckham Rye Park today I saw signs up about a consultation on plans to redevelop the bowling green.

https://consultations.southwark.gov.uk/environment-leisure/peckham-rye-park-bowling-green-and-pavilion/

The consultation closes on 11 October.

The online survey suggests mini-golf or a pop up licensed bar in the summer and asks for suggestions of other uses.

[alice]

What about a bowling green?

[DuncanW]

"The area of the park has been used as a Bowling Green, with a supporting Pavilion. They have become underused but still cost a lot of money to run."

[sally buying]

Public toilets

[jane21]

I think it should be a bowling green - travesty to make it an entertainments venue.

[Spartacus]

Maybe rather than redevelopment the council should try advertising it as a bowling green, invite people to pay to play and see if it gets used

Until this thread I didn't even know it was there and whilst I wouldn't use it, if people don't know a facility exists they won't know they can use it !

[EDmummy]

It?s previously been run as a bowling green for all. My kids loved it and was always a great family day out with a picnic. Costs can?t be that much.

[Penguin68]

Although some of the traditional bowling demographic has clearly been hit by Covid 19, it is still a good way to get outside, meet people, socialise (safely) and demonstrate skills. Bowling greens are essentially civilised and welcoming places for older people (although I also used to bowl at University many years ago - crown green bowling). Apart from rolling and mowing (and I suppose some re-seeding, on occasion) greens need little upkeep (bowlers tend to treat them with respect). It would be a great shame to see the green re-purposed. There are other spaces where different recreational pursuits could be established. The low level of current usage are a function, I would suggest, of the green being put out of use at the height of the epidemic (possibly wrongly) and it taking time for bowlers to return.

[Lolamaxx]

We?ve hired out the bowling green before... it was relatively inexpensive and came with the support of a teenaged staff member (volunteer?) and use of a kitchen with fridge. A great deal, and enjoyed by a large, mixed-age group, but woefully under-marketed. I came up with the idea myself, and had to hunt down an email to coordinate. I have NEVER seen it in use by any typical bowls club (having been here since 2007, and been in a life situation to visit Peckham Rye at least 2 x per week in the past few years), unlike the Dulwich Park one. Since outdoor spaces and kitchen access is at a premium at the moment, perhaps putting an awning over it and doing event hire for small guideline-friendly events, the proceeds of which get fed right back into the park, might be an idea? Small community market with limited entry?

[first mate]

Not mini golf though, please.

[nxjen]

The park local to me where I grew up had a mini golf course - it was great. Had to pay for it but it was very popular, used by all ages and easier to access than bowls

[first mate]

Yes, but look at where the bowling green in PRP is situated, right next to the Japanese Garden and opposite the Rose garden. It?s generally a quiet, tranquil space, round there. This might be changed with the introduction of a mini golf course. Don?t they tend to involve lots of primary colours and plastic? By all means have one, just not there. Perhaps a space closer to the cafe and children?s playground would be a more suitable position?

I?d rather see that space given over to fitness and wellbeing of a quieter nature, things like yoga, meditation, tai-chi. People tend to go to that bit of the park for those pursuits anyway so it could be a good fit. Perhaps the NHS could get involved and offer physio and massage in the building.

[nikthegreek]

Barefoot bowls is very popular in Australia https://www.glenwaverleybowlsclub.com.au/

Providing a licensed bar and opening the greens up for a more relaxed game appealed to a younger demographic. This gave the clubs a new lease of life while keeping the greens available for the original members. I'd love to see that happen here.

[first mate]

That sounds a nice idea and a heck of a lot better than mini golf.

[Dogkennelhillbilly]

Christ, do we need yet another place for people to drink? Right opposite the kids playpark and a stone's throw from the Colicci concession that already sells booze? It's bad enough with dickheads wandering around the playpark with their bottles of beer and the widespread dumping of bottles, cans and related shite all over the place.

[Blah Blah]

I agree with the general sentiments above, that a bowling green can not cost that much to upkeep and that given footfall everywhere is down, because of the pandemic, that now is not the time to be trying to change the use. A bar in that part of the park is a terrible idea and parks are not commercial enterprises anyway, so why something has to be used to any capacity to justify it's existence is a mystery. There is also something quintessentially English about a bowling green. So if the space is to be used for other activities, let's keep it to other lawn games that people might like to try, like croquet, or tranquil oddities like giant chess etc. I agree with the points made above on noise.

[rachp]

Ha ha ha, shrieker, you might as well change your username to troll you are so obviously on the wind up!

[Abe_froeman]

Tennis courts and a little bar would be great

[peckman]

the title calling it a redevelopment is slightly inaccurate . the notice is actually asking for suggestions . it is actually a biwling green already so if you have an urge to play Bowls go and use it. it's a difficult site to be used regularly . how about rebuilding it and use the clubhouse for a nature centre or something . it would fit two tennis courts in but is in a quiet area of the park

[peckman]

oops typo .. I meant rewilding it not rebuilding!

[ed26]

Roller disco

[Blah Blah]

Shrieker, stop being an ass. The park houses wildlife and gardens that a lot of work goes into. And you seriously want to turn it into a nightclub? Young people have plenty of bars they can go to, and pandemic aside, nightclubs too. Lordship Lane is full of them. Rye Lane too.

On the other suggestion of tennis courts. Are they likely to be used fully either? There were tennis courts there before the skate park and outdoor gym replaced them. Not sure they were maintained or used at all?

[Blah Blah]

ed26 Wrote:

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> Roller disco

LOL

[Abe_froeman]

If they weren't maintained then it's logical they wouldn't have been used.

[Dogkennelhillbilly]

Shrieker Wrote:

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> I think that now is a good time for this space to

> move away from being a stuffy old bowls green, and

> should be set up as a bar and late night venue

> with a decent license until 2 or 3am. This is what

> young people want and need, and would be a good

> addition to the area.

>

> No doubt lots of boring people would not like this

> idea, so as an alternative, why not turn it into a

> small car parks for people who drive to the area

> to visit the common?

Even I had to lol at this one. A more subtle hook would have probably reeled me in.