Yorkshire and Humber Public Parks Face Decline

Wednesday, 7 September 2016 07:00

A new report from the Heritage Lottery Fund calls for collaborative national and local action to deliver new ways of funding and managing Yorkshire and Humber parks to avert a crisis

Today, the Heritage Lottery Fund has published State of UK Public Parks 2016, its second report to comprehensively review the condition and management of the UK’s public parks.

Parks are valued by the communities that use them for example 57% - of UK adults use their parks at least once a month or more (up 3% from 2014) and 90% - of UK households with children under five visit their local park at least once a month or more (up 7% from 2014).

But their future may not be so bright when 83% - of councils across Yorkshire and Humber anticipate budget reductions of 10% or more over the next three years.

An investment of over £90m of National Lottery money has played a vital role in ensuring public parks across Yorkshire and Humber are in better condition, with improved facilities and renovated historic features. However, with park managers across the region reporting an expectation of further budget cuts, this investment could be lost as the risk of decline and potential facility closures continues to grow.

Fiona Spears, Head of HLF Yorkshire and Humber, said: “Thousands of people across Yorkshire and Humber visit their local public park daily. But these are financially challenging times and if we are to successfully halt the on-set of decline we need to come together now to find innovative and sustainable models of funding and maintaining these highly valued community spaces.”

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