Integrating Terryland Forest Park - An Urban Transformation Project Inspired by Community Visions for an Ecological Corridor

Sammanfattning: "Citizens of Galway - this is your park!" ... it reads on a large, slightly yellowed sign in front of a deserted green space. Here is one of the few entrances to Terryland Forest Park, brought to life by the combined efforts of Galway City Council and the local community in the year 2000. Under a multi-sectoral steering committee, the vision for Ireland’s largest ecological urban park and forest with diverse community benefits was born. Now, the park appears derelict, and many are unaware of its existence. It lies hidden behind large buildings and extensive car parking lots of a big-box retail centre and therefore lacks accessibility and passive surveillance. Here, activities and traffic flows are determined entirely by trading hours - only a few people take advantage of the close-by green space. Inspired by community visions, this design project aims at better integrating Terryland Forest Park with its surrounding urban context. It proposes to transform the neighbouring Headford Road Retail Centre into a mixed-use, human scale district, led by the following key questions: How can the park be made more attractive and accessible? Which transformations could improve its community and ecological value? How can the new urban design connect the park with its surrounding neighbourhoods and the close-by old town while maintaining its function as an important retail centre? Which uses can activate currently neglected spaces? And finally, how does it foster environmental awareness amongst the citizens of Galway and its visitors?