Why it matters: The proposal would bring a disused 1,500 square metre area of the Grade II Registered Park and Garden back into active recreational use, providing families with a new accessible activity whilst respecting the site's conservation status.
The details: Jackie Tennens has submitted plans to Ipswich Borough Council for an 18-hole adventure golf course on the site of the former croquet lawn, located south of the existing tennis courts and outdoor gym. The course would feature wildlife-themed obstacles designed to complement the park's natural setting, with all paths meeting accessibility standards at a minimum of 1.2 metres wide.
The application follows detailed pre-application consultation with council officers, who confirmed in March that "the principle of development is likely acceptable in this location, recognising its underused character and level access from the park's main routes."
The bigger picture: The site has a long history of recreational use dating back to the 1920s and 1930s, when it was laid out as tennis courts and a croquet lawn. The croquet lawn and small pavilion remained in active use through the 1950s and 1960s, but in recent years, the pavilion was removed, and the croquet lawn fell into disuse.
The proposed adventure golf course would restore recreational activity to an area that has been effectively dormant, whilst operating within the strict heritage guidelines that protect Christchurch Park as both a Registered Park and Garden and Conservation Area.
What's planned: The design incorporates wildlife-beneficial planting and natural textures to minimise visual impact on the historic park setting. Existing hedging and mature trees that enclose the site would be retained, with the entrance gate designed as a replica of the existing park gates.
The planning documents reveal that the original design was revised following council feedback to adopt "a more naturalistic theme inspired by British wildlife, balancing playfulness with planting and natural textures." No sound systems or lighting are planned for the site.
The other side: The proposal has attracted both support and opposition from residents. One objector said they "strongly oppose" the proposal and argued that Christchurch Park offers "what is increasingly unavailable elsewhere: a quiet, open space where there is easy access for everybody to trees and fresh air."
They added: "What it is short of is the green, open space the park provides. Adding more activities would detract from the very facility that it currently provides: space, peace, and quiet."
The objection also questioned the need for additional activities, noting that "the ping pong tables are hardly used, as it is", and suggesting "we need less clutter, not more."
However, supporters of the plan argue that reviving the disused croquet lawn for recreational use would benefit families and attract more visitors to the much-loved park.
The bottom line: After years sitting empty, new plans propose returning this corner of Ipswich's beloved park to active recreational use.
