t the CIPR Pride Awards 2019 (Anglia, Thames and Chiltern region) held in Cambridge on Thursday 19 September, we won the Gold award in the ‘Construction, Property or Infrastructure Campaign’ category for our innovative ‘Picnic in the Park’ event organised on behalf of Ebbsfleet Development Corporation (EDC).
Athene was appointed by EDC following a competitive tender process, where the brief was to design and deliver a creative and engaging public consultation on the future use and look of Ebbsfleet’s seven major parks. The problem faced by EDC was a desire to bring residents (especially families) to the parkland – but the areas did not have the infrastructure to hold a safe and accessible consultation. Athene provided a solution to this problem by creating indoor parks in Ebbsfleet school halls, with a ‘Picnic in the Park’ theme.
Athene arranged two ‘Picnic in the Park’ events using props to mimic a woodland, urban beach and games area, making them family friendly, while also meeting the brief of gathering local residents’ views of how they’d like to see the parks developed over the coming years.
The brief of making the consultations fun events for all of the community was achieved, with face painters, garden games and a quiz used to encourage participation and idea generation from families and other stakeholders, delivering a successful and now award-winning consultation.
Head of Design, Simon Harrison, said: “Athene provided a complete wraparound service coordinating all aspects of a complex project, creating a beautiful indoor park setting, and a series of inventive games and engagement activities that has allowed us to identify key needs and requirements for the planning and design of our city parks in Ebbsfleet.”
If you are looking for some assistance in an upcoming community development consultation or other PR services, contact us on contact@athene-communications.co.uk or call 01733 207340.