Making Park Footpaths Accessible For All With NatraTex

NatraTex |

In the years since 2020, our parks, beaches and green spaces became more popular than ever as a result of social distancing requirements. Throughout the summer, members of the public flocked to outdoor spaces as a way to safely enjoy time with friends and family in line with current government guidelines and restrictions.

There’s no doubt, as we move into a post-pandemic world that the popularity of these outdoor spaces will endure. And so they should! 

Getting out and about in the fresh air is crucial to everyone’s health and wellbeing! Being amongst greenery, nature and woodland has also been shown to have fantastic mental health benefits.

With an uptick in visitors to outdoor spaces, it is more important than ever that these areas are accessible for everyone, and that they be as aesthetically pleasing as possible. Park footpaths, for example, should be regularly maintained to allow everyone, including wheelchair users and the elderly, to enjoy walking without risk of injury.

Unfortunately, reduced budgets and prioritisation of resources often means that park footpaths, gravel footpaths and pedestrian areas are last on the list for maintenance. They are left to crumble, the self-binding gravel or porous coloured tarmac allowed to crack and break into small parts. This neglect of public spaces can pose a real problem, especially for wheelchair users or those with reduced mobility.

Accessible Park Footpaths with NatraTex

Creating accessible and low-maintenance footpaths is simple with NatraTex Cotswold, NatraTex Colour and NatraTex Eco. Suitable for park footpaths both old and new, these innovative, attractive surface courses are hard-wearing and durable enough for use by wheelchair users, joggers, parents with prams and walkers alike.

One of the drawbacks of gravel footpaths is that the aggregate used to create them can shift around with heavy footfall. Not only is this unsightly, but it’s also inconvenient for pedestrians. Gravel footpaths can also be harder for those on wheels to navigate. For wheelchairs, bicycles and prams, wading through gravel is no mean feat and can turn what should be a pleasurable experience into a somewhat dangerous slog.

NatraTex surfacing is a viable alternative to gravel and coloured tarmac, and a great way to build decorative landscaping. While it retains a similar appearance, the aggregate is locked into place with a high-quality binder to ensure that the surface is smooth and resilient to damage even under the toughest of conditions. Unlike gravel footpaths, NatraTex surfaces don’t move and require no sweeping or regular maintenance to put them back into place.

All of these elements make NatraTex a fantastic choice for park footpaths, especially busy ones with lots of footfall. What’s more, it is quick and easy to lay and is available in a range of colours to suit the surrounding environment. 

For example, NatraTex Cotswold with its warm buff tones works effortlessly in natural environments, particularly those that frame older or listed buildings. In contrast, NatraTex Colour, which is available in a range of hues from red to green and yellow, can be used to create vibrant and fun accessible areas such as playgrounds and MUGA pitches. It is also used as a landscaping element in the formation of park footpaths leading up to a building, such as a soft play centre or school.

Boost Your Green Credentials

Our recent addition to the NatraTex suite of footpaths, NatraTex Eco, is a sustainable variety of coloured paving that brings all the benefits of our flagship products. Made from a minimum of 50% recycled aggregates, NatraTex Eco is both budget and planet-friendly while continuing to be low maintenance and durable.

For local councils and contractors looking to maximise on budgets while keeping sustainability at the heart of what they do, NatraTex Eco is a fabulous choice for a range of projects from sports pitches to park footpaths, cycle paths and beyond!

Endless Possibilities with NatraTex

With NatraTex, the possibilities are endless when it comes to surfacing, whether you’re looking to create a high-quality park footpath, a pristine coloured driveway, or fun and safe MUGA surface. No matter the aesthetic or planned use, our durable and adaptable fully-bound asphalt surfaces courses are a fantastic alternative to resin-bound surfaces, gravel footpaths, and general asphalt.

To learn more about how NatraTex products can be utilised in your next regeneration or recreational project, contact us today. Our CPD sessions will give you an insight into NatraTex including what it looks like to its many benefits. Furthermore, interested parties are also encouraged to request a sample of NatraTex products to get hands-on with our surface course and decide if it is right for you.

Should you have any questions about NatraTex, please contact us today. Our friendly team is on hand to talk you through specifying your project and any other questions you may have about the suitability of our surface course for your park footpath project. 

We look forward to hearing from you!