Improvement 08: To enhance our parks for use by all of the community

Progress Update

Action agreed at the Feedback Event on 22/03/10:

1. Look at the possibility of increasing public awareness of who the park keepers/wardens are by inviting them to meet with local community groups

2. Signs to be erected in parks with information on how the public can contact park keepers/wardens

3. Schools are being invited to get children to plant bulbs and trees - this will help them to understand that parks are for everyone to enjoy and look after

4. Rob Delap from Newcastle City Council’s Parks and Countryside Team will have discussions with park keepers/wardens about wearing high visibility clothing so that their presence is enhanced

5. Rob Delap reported that the perimeter fencing of Elswick Park is nearing completion, this will allow the park to be locked between the hours 22:00 and 07:00 and it is expected to happen by summer 2010. He also reported that vandalism within the park has virtually disappeared

6. Rob Delap will arrange for the group to share their ideas with the Friends of Hodgkin Park Group about the future development of the park

7. Concerns were raised by the group that there are not enough park keepers/wardens. This was evident from the comments made at the November 2009 Newcastle Citizens Assembly Event following the group’s presentation. It was suggested by the group that park keepers/wardens and the police should liaise with each other to work out a way for there to be a more visible presence within the parks

9. The group felt strongly that parks should have a fenced dog walking area erected with appropriate dog litter bins