Over 100 residents gather to re-imagine York’s Homestead Park

On Thursday, 27th July, Homestead Park hosted a unique event aimed at capturing the public's invaluable views on the future of this cherished community spacem with two further events on 12th and 24th August.

The event saw an overwhelming response, with over 100 enthusiastic residents joining the Social Vision team for a day filled with creativity, exploration, and community engagement. 

The event was thoughtfully designed to foster a sense of connection between Homestead Park and its visitors. Participants indulged in a variety of creative activities, including captivating storytelling sessions, exciting treasure hunting adventures, immersive map making experiences, and guided tours of the breathtaking gardens. The day was brimming with inspiration, as park users and visitors engaged in shaping the future of this beloved park. 

A standout feature of the event was the exquisite Dream Tree art installation, envisioned and brought to life by our esteemed community artist, Justin Grasty. The installation served as a powerful symbol of our collective dreams and aspirations for Homestead Park's future. 

In line with its commitment to inclusive decision-making, Social Vision introduced their innovative Energy Map, which allowed Park users of all ages to enthusiastically point out areas they cherish and highlight aspects they wish to see improved, providing valuable insights to further refine the park's future plans. 

A participant at the event said: “This is such a cool and engaging way of collecting information, rather than the usual tick boxes. The kids are loving it, and it’s great to see so much thought going into a park that I grew up in and now bring my kids to. It really makes me want to get involved and makes me excited for the future direction of the park.” 

But the journey does not end there. Homestead Park's dedication to community involvement continues with two upcoming events: Saturday, 12th August, and Thursday, 24th August. These events promise even more opportunities for residents to actively participate in shaping the park's future, with more storytelling, art work and appreciation of one of York’s finest green spaces. 

For those who couldn't attend in person, the park has an online survey open until the end of the month. With over 400 York residents already contributing, the time is ripe to get involved and make your voice heard. Your input matters in creating a Homestead Park that truly reflects the desires and aspirations of current and future generations. 

"We are thrilled with the overwhelming response and enthusiasm from the community during the event. The input we've received has been invaluable, and we are eager to build on this momentum to ensure Homestead Park flourishes as a place of joy and harmony for years to come," said Joe Gardham of the Social Vision, the event organisers. 

 Victoria Hughes, from Joseph Rowntree Foundation (the park’s owner), said: “Wow! Social Vision's first session was amazing!

There was such a buzz in the park and my own kids loved getting involved! Their imaginations were running wild, sparked by the amazing storyteller who told fantastic tales of Homestead's previous monkey residents and they loved pinning their hopes for the future of the park on the Dream Tree. They're still talking about the woodland session around the campfire with Thrive Outside- we can't wait for the next session on the 12th of August!” 

How to Get Involved:

Attend the upcoming events on Saturday, 12th August, and Thursday, 24th August, to have your say in shaping the park's future. Events run 10am – 3pm each day, with storytelling, treasure hunts and Guided Tours on the hour. 

Participate in the online survey available on the Social Vision website [https://social-vision.org.uk/homestead/reimagining-homestead-survey-2023/] until the end of the month.

Social Vision invites every York resident to help us create a shared vision for a vibrant, sustainable, and community-centric future.  

For more information about Homestead Park and to stay updated on future events, visit https://social-vision.org.uk/homestead/.