A comparison between what is currently available
(Step 3) and the current and future needs of the district (Step 4) will
help to establish the gaps in current provisions or areas where there is
an oversupply of POS and/or associated infrastructure.
This assessment should directly reference the definition of adequate, standard POS provision outlined in Step 4 and consider:
- Identified impediments to using public open space including physical, geographic, financial, social and cultural barriers.
- Analysis
of the existing open space supply it terms of and its suitability to
provide for the various needs and functions. Suitability considerations
could include:
- Hierarchy and associated catchments of the open space network considered in the context of location and distribution.
- The connectivity of the open space network including the physical connection and destination nodes (i.e. spaces of interest).
For
example, the requirement in Liveable Neighbourhoods 2015 for all
residents to be located within a minimum of 300m of a POS site of any
size is a valuable measure of adequate access to POS. To determine a gap
in provision draw a 300m catchment around all POS sites in the locality
and identify areas which do not lie inside any catchments.
Alternatively a ped-shed analysis could be used to assess access to POS
via walking and cycling (Active Healthy Communities How to: Ped Shed Analysis).
Continue to: Step 6 – Strategies, opportunities and priorities