Ryde Riverwalk Project

Con

nect

ivity

Sydney

Parramatta

Chatswood

North Sydney

Meadowbank

North Strathfield

Epping

Carlingford

Homebush

M2 Moto

rway

P

acifi c

Hwy

Par ram

atta Road

Victo ria Road

Wes

tern

Hwy

Concord Rd

PARKS

TRAIN CONNECTION

ROADS

RYDE RIVERSIDE CROWN RESERVE STUDY AREA

LEGEND

NORTH

Overview

The City of Ryde’s Ryde Riverwalk project provided a vision and working plan for a recreational trail along the northern foreshore of the Parramatta River, from Wharf Road, Melrose Park, in the west to Punt Road, Gladesville, in the east. The Master Plan, adopted by Council in September 2007, provided a mixed-use ‘Riverwalk’ with integrated pedestrian and cycle access, supported by meeting and resting areas.

The Riverwalk project has addressed local and regional objectives for improving recreational opportunities, active transport, public health and community well-being. The trail encourages walking and cycling within the City of Ryde by connecting nine existing foreshore parks with recreational trails, community facilities, natural environments, urban centres and public transport hubs.

Design Element – Connectivity

Connectivity (or permeability) refers to the directness of links and the density of connections in a transport network. A highly permeable network has many short links, numerous intersections, and minimal dead-ends. As connectivity increases, travel distances decrease and route options increase, allowing more direct travel between destinations, creating a more accessible and resilient transportation system1.

Connectivity affects the degree to which transportation networks such as streets and walking or cycling paths connect people to their destinations (including intermediate destinations such as public transport services). Good connectivity provides pedestrians with easy access to key destinations. Excellent connectivity actively seeks to discourage car use by making local trips easier and more pleasant by foot than by car.

Transportation activity (walking or cycling) is positively associated with the number of accessible destinations, as well as public transport access and perceived access to cycle paths near home2.

In addition, the presence of well-maintained footpaths is associated with walking for recreation and for transport3.

LEGEND

Ryde Riverside Crown Reserve Study Area Parks Roads Train Stations

P

P

P

P

P

PP

P

P

P

BEACH ACCESS

BEACH ACCESS

WHARF ACCESS

SHARED FOOTPATH

WHARF AND BOAT RAMP

BOAT MAINTENANCE PLANNED WHARF ACCESS

FUTURE WHARF ACCESS

SHARED PATHWAYS

BEACH ACCESS

RIVERCAT FERRY ACCESS

RIVERCAT FERRY ACCESS

BEACH ACCESS

LEGENDMAJOR ACCESS NODES

WATER ACCESS POINTS

FERRY WHARVES

DRIVEWAYS / CAR PARKS

PATHWAYS

P

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WBA

NK

CLE

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RES

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JUNCTIO

N ST

SUTTOR AV

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FRANCES R

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WATSON ST

REGENT ST

WATERVIEW ST

WADE

LN

OSBORNE AVE

DOUGLAS ST

PRINCES ST

HORDERN AV

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PRINCES ST

DYSON ST

PELLISIER LN

CHADWICK ST

DELANGE RDCHARLES ST

WATERVIEW ST

MITCHELL ST

PELLISIER PL

PELLIS

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D

PHILLIP LN

DELANGE RD

KALUNA ST

PHILLIP

RD

PELL

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CHURCH ST

WATERVIEW ST

WEL

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CR

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COBHAM AVE

MACINTOSH ST

ANDREW ST

JAM

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ADELAIDE ST

PORTER ST

BELMORE ST

HAMILTON CRES WEST

GALE ST

THIS

TLE

ST

THORN S

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SUTHERLAND AVE

HAMILT

ON CRES

RICHARD JOHNSON CRES

BANK ST

NANCAR

ROW AV

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MEADOW CRES

FARADAY LN

UNDE

RDAL

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ANGAS ST

BOWDEN ST

FARADAY LN

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CONS

TITU

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BANK ST

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EST

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CONS

TITU

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RAILWAY RD

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ROSS SMITH AVE

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TITU

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CONSTITU

TION R

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P W

44

P W 43

P W

92

P W 5

P W 6

P W 5

THE GERMAN SCHOOL

JOHANNES GUTENBERG

NANCARROW LN

MAIN NORTHERN RAILWAY

WAT

ERPO

INT

DEV

ELO

PMEN

T

MEADOWBANK RAILWAY STATION

The

King

s Sc

hool

Row

ing

Shed

Concord & Ryde

Sailing Club

ADI S

ITE

LOO

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LOOP RD

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roup

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hy R

acks

Verti

cal S

tora

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CIVI

C GA

TEW

AY

BAY

DRIV

E

"WATERS EDGE"

MEADOWBANK PARK

MEMORIAL PARK

FARADAY PARK

HELENE PARK

ANDERSON PARK

BENNELONG PARK

KISSING POINT PARK

KISSING POINT PARK

SETTLERS PARK

PARRAMATTA RIVER

WENTWORTH PT

CHARITY PT

SHEPHERDS BAY

UHRS PT

KISSING POINT JETTY

KISSING POINT BAY

KISSING POINT

ROCKY POINT

KISSING POINT FERRY WHARF

MEADOWBANK FERRY WHARFMEADOWBANK

RAILWAY STATION

MEADOWBANK TAFE

JOHN WHITTON BRIDGE

RYDE BRIDGE

PARRAMATTA RIVER

PARRAMATTA RIVER

HOMEBUSH BAY

100 200 300 40050 5000NORTH

RYDE WHARF RESERVE

LEGEND

Major Access Nodes Water Access Points FerryWharves Driveways/carparks Pathways

P

SpecialFeatures

• KeyfeaturesoftheRiverwalkincludepedestrianinfrastructure, quality neighbourhood aesthetics and access to parks and community facilities, all of which are positively associated with walking for recreation4.

• TheRiverwalkhashelpedtoenhanceandincreasetheusageof the foreshore facilities by both individuals and families. The trail provides a safe access route for community members wanting to use the open space for activities such as picnics, family reunions, physical activity and recreational fishing. The foreshore parks are also popular for weddings, along with the summertime ‘Cinema in the Park’ which attracts up to 2,000 people a night.

• TheRiverwalkprovidesanimportantlinkintheSydneymetropolitan recreational trails system (east/west Parramatta connection).

• TheRiverwalkincorporateslooppathswithinlargerparks allowing smaller recreational opportunities, and it reviews existing networks in consultation with the community to provide links and alternate options where paths have been found to be less successful.

• Byusingastrategyofstagedimplementationandenhancement alongside a public art strategy to animate and reveal the landscape and stories of place, the Riverwalk includes a wealth of memorable landmarks that reflect the distinctive character of the landscape and celebrate local history.

• Communityinputandparticipationhasbeensignificantthroughout the project’s implementation, as evidenced by the excellent attendance numbers at section launches, saddle surveys, information days and other community collaboration initiatives. The Riverwalk is being used by NorthernSydneyHealthandBikeNorthasatrainingareafor local bicycle safety courses.

INPUTSFunding• FundingfortheRiverwalkwassourcedfromanumberofgovernmentprovidersand

programs. The primary funding came from the NSW State Government’s Sharing Sydney HarbourAccessProgram,theMetropolitanGreenspaceprogramandtheRTACyclewayFundingprogram.

• SecondaryorsupportingfundingopportunitiesweresoughtfromtheDepartmentofEnvironment, Climate Change and Water – Environmental Trust Grants and EPA Stormwater Trust Grants; Department of Sport and Recreation – Capital Assistance Scheme and RegionalSportsFacilityProgram;SydneyCatchmentAuthority–CatchmentProtectionandImprovementGrants;andtheNationalHeritageTrust:AustralianGovernmentEnvirofund.

• PublicArtFundingOpportunitieswerealsosoughtfromarangeofgovernmentprovidersandprograms,suchasSharingSydneyHarbourScheme,NSWDepartmentofTourism, Sport and Recreation, NSW Department of Planning.

• Futurefundingandsponsorshipforpublicartistobesoughtfrommajor,longtermbusinesses with a history in the area, who may want to sponsor additional public art projects along the proposed recreation trail.

Costs• ToguidetheongoingimplementationoftheRiverwalkovertime,anestimateofcostswas

developed for the different walkway typologies and applied to the length of the route to gain an understanding of the overall costing scope at the master plan stage. The cost estimates can be viewed on the Ryde River Walk Master Plan Report (see Resources section).

• ExistingpathwayswhichmakeupcomponentsoftheRiverwalkrequiredupgradingtomeetcertain standards. The upgrade and maintenance of the pathway assets are an ongoing cost, which will need to be reviewed and updated over time.

Community participationCommunity participation has been significant throughout the project, with valuable contributions from local residents, sporting groups, government and interested groups through a variety of consultation processes.

Acommunityinformation‘FunDay’wasthestartingpointfortheproject,raisingawareness and prompting feedback. The scope of the project was introduced as was a summary of local history and information regarding the existing walkways and cycle routes in the area. The existing cycleway network was then critiqued with local residents marking alternate routes to those considered unsafe due to high traffic loads etc, helping to develop a sense of ‘ownership’ of the project.

The second stage of community consultation involved a saddle survey - ‘Ryde Ride Day’, in which interested residents and cycle enthusiasts rode along the length of the proposed route, providing immediate feedback concerning connections, quality and practicality. This invaluable information has informed the detailed planning of the cycle route.

The Draft Master Plan was exhibited throughout the City of Ryde in early 2006. The main submission was from bike user group ‘Bike North’ and was supportive of the plan providing a number of suggestions for the precincts. Bike North has since participated in several training days and also the City of Ryde Youth Week ‘On Yer Bike’ event.

OUTPUTSPlans and PolicyThe Ryde River Walk Master Plan (City of Ryde 2007) underpins the project along with the Ryde Riverside Reserve draft Plan of Management(CoRApril2009)andtheDraftRydeForeshoreNaturalandCulturalandHeritageStudy(CoR2009).Howevertheinitiative is supported by a number of other Council plans and policies, including the Ryde Bicycle Strategy and Master Plan (CoR 2007)andtheAccessandEquityPolicy(CoR2009).

Monitoring and EvaluationThe physical infrastructure and Riverwalk usage will be monitored and evaluated over time. It is expected that as awareness increases and pathways improve in quality and connectedness, that there will be an increased patronage and demands on the trail.

City of Ryde’s evaluation program focuses on:• Conditionandmaintenanceofpathwayinfrastructure• Detailpublicdomainimprovementsinramps,kerbs,markings• Cycleandpedestrianvolumesandcapacity• Connectednessandlegibilityofsignage• Supportinginfrastructuresuchastoilets,shelters,wateraccessandrestareas

OUTCOMESBenefits• ApublicspaceliketheRiverwalk,whichiswellused,cancreateasenseofcommunity,belongingandidentity.Researchshows

that every dollar invested in open space opportunities is more than doubled in return from public health benefit5.

• Greateruseofrecreationalfacilitiesalsodeliversimportanthealthbenefitstothecommunitythroughincreasedphysicalactivity,which is an important protective factor for a range of chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease4.

• UsageoftheRiverwalkhasbeenincreasedthroughweekdayschooluse,organisedsportstrainingonfieldsduringeveningsandweekends,theannualAquaticFestival(dragonboatracing)attractingover1,000visitorstotheforeshoreparksandCouncilrun‘Picnic Days’ in the foreshore parks.

• Therehasbeenanincreaseinthenumberofdwellings,particularlyvillasandapartmentsalongtheforeshore.TheRiverwalkand associated foreshore parks are helping to provide an opportunity for physical activity and social interaction for these and other residents who have limited access to private open space.

Equity and AccessAn ongoing goal of the Riverwalk is to maximise community access by ensuring equitable and easy access to and within the parks forallmembersofthecommunity.Flexibleanddiverserecreationprovisionshavebeenprovided,includingavarietyofrecreationpathway types in different areas, to cater for different types of users. Design elements, such as indented direction lines in curb ramps, have also been incorporated into the recreation pathways to cater for users of different abilities.

SustainabilityThe overall management principle for Ryde Riverwalk is to preserve its trails and open space as local and regional community resources. This will be achieved by maintaining the aspects of the Riverwalk that are particularly valued, especially the recreational, natural, cultural and accessibility aspects. Maintaining and strengthening the features and facilities of the foreshore to maximise opportunities for a wide range of land and water-based recreational uses will also assist to ensure future sustainability.

Major long term objectives consistent with the reinforcement of the Riverwalk’s open space are to:• Continuetofunctionasalocalandregionalrecreationresource• EnhancethehistoricalcharacterandculturalunderstandingsoftheRiverwalkforeshores• EnsuretheRiverwalkisavailabletoallsectionsofthelocalandwidercommunity

To support the continued upgrade of pedestrian infrastructure, a capital works program of infrastructure upgrades, including new amenities blocks, has been introduced. Shelters are installed whenever a new section of path is constructed or upgraded, which include bubblers (complete with dog bowls), seating and bike racks.

Learnings• ResidentsofRydearefromarangeofsocio-economicandculturalbackgroundswithapproximately44%ofresidentsborn

overseas6. Individuals’ lifestyles and behaviours influence their health, and in turn their lifestyles and behaviours are also influenced by broad social and cultural factors. The Ryde community and foreshore users value various aspects of Ryde Riverside Reserve for different reasons. By understanding these reasons the role that the community expects the foreshore to play in the future may be determined, assisting future planning and development strategies.

• Theprocessofraisingfundstakestimeandpersistence.Oncesomemoneyisraiseditbecomeseasiertoattractothersourcesoffunding,particularlyforpublicartworks(seeFundingsection).

Resources

• RydeRiverwalkMasterPlan http://www.ryde.nsw.gov.au/WEB/SITE/me.get?site.home&PAGE1545

• NSWMetroStrategy http://www.metrostrategy.nsw.gov.au

• HealthySpacesandPlaces:anationalguidetodesigningplacesforhealthyliving http://www.healthyplaces.org.au

• HealthyByDesign:aplanner’sguidetoenvironmentsforactiveliving http://www.heartfoundation.org.au/active_by_design

References

1. TDM (Transport Demand Management) Encyclopedia 2008, Roadway Connectivity, Victorian Transport Policy Institute Accessed 27 January 2010. http://www.vtpi.org/tdm/tdm116.htm

2. HoehnerCM,RamirezLKB,ElliottMB,HandySL,BrownsonRC. Perceived and objective environmental measures and physical activity among urban adults. American Journal of Preventive Medicine 2005; Vol.28 (2), pp.105-116.

3. PikoraTJ,Giles-CortiB,KnuimanMW,BullFC,JamrozikK,DonovanRJ. Neighborhood environmental factors correlated with walking near home: Using SPACES. Medical Science Sports Exercise, 2006; Vol.38(4), pp.708-14.

4.NationalHeartFoundationofAustralia.Positionstatement:Thebuiltenvironment andwalking.GebelK,BaumanA,OwenN,FosterS,Giles-CortiB.NationalHeartFoundationofAustralia,2009.

5. CityofRydeCouncil.2009HeartFoundationLocalGovernmentAwards:Planning forActiveLivingapplicationform,2009;pp11.

6.AustralianBureauofStatistics.2006CensusofPopulationandHousing,Canberra,ABS, 2007.

Acknowledgements

TheHeartFoundationwouldliketothankCityofRydefortheimagescontainedwithinthis case study and their valued contribution to this resource.