Ryde Riverwalk Project Connectivity
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
MEA
DO
WBA
NK
CLE
VES
PAR
K
PARK
HOFF
MAN
PARK
KORPIE RESERVE
PUBL
ICSC
HO
OL
WO
OLW
AY
RES
ERVE
ANN
THORN
PARK
HAYES
RES
ERVE
MAIN NORTHERN RAILWAY
WATERVIEW ST
JUNCTIO
N ST
SUTTOR AV
E
FRANCES R
D
WATSON ST
REGENT ST
WATERVIEW ST
WADE
LN
OSBORNE AVE
DOUGLAS ST
PRINCES ST
HORDERN AV
E
PRINCES ST
DYSON ST
PELLISIER LN
CHADWICK ST
DELANGE RDCHARLES ST
WATERVIEW ST
MITCHELL ST
PELLISIER PL
PELLIS
IER R
D
PHILLIP LN
DELANGE RD
KALUNA ST
PHILLIP
RD
PELL
ISIE
R RD
KALU
NA ST
PELLISIER LN
CHURCH ST
WATERVIEW ST
WEL
L ST
PARS
ONAG
E ST
PARS
ONA
GE
ST
LAN
CAS
TER
AVE
CR
OW
LEY
CR
ES
COBHAM AVE
MACINTOSH ST
ANDREW ST
JAM
ES S
T
ADELAIDE ST
PORTER ST
BELMORE ST
HAMILTON CRES WEST
GALE ST
THIS
TLE
ST
THORN S
T
SUTHERLAND AVE
HAMILT
ON CRES
RICHARD JOHNSON CRES
BANK ST
NANCAR
ROW AV
E
MEADOW CRES
FARADAY LN
UNDE
RDAL
E LN
ANGAS ST
BOWDEN ST
FARADAY LN
ANGAS LN
CONS
TITU
TION
RDSEE ST
BANK ST
CO
NST
ITU
TIO
N R
D W
EST
STATION ST
MONS AVE
CONS
TITU
TIO
N RD
WES
T
ROTHES
AY AV
E
RAILWAY RD
CONS
TITUT
ION RD
WES
T
MEA
DOW
CRE
S
BOWDEN ST
ROSS SMITH AVE
CONS
TITU
TIO
N RD
CONSTITU
TION R
D
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
P RD
LOOP RD
"BAYVIEW"
"NEWPORT"
1st P
utne
y Sco
ut G
roup
RYDE
WHA
RF R
ESER
VE (R
1001
98)
Horiz
onta
l Sto
rage
Ding
hy R
acks
Verti
cal S
tora
ge
Ding
hy R
acks
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.