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<i>Please forward and distribute...<br>
<br>
</i><font size=5><b>SPEAK OUT FOR OUR PARKS AND GREEN SPACES!<br>
<br>
</font><font size=4>THE HEART OF A NEIGHBOURHOOD<br>
<br>
</font></b><font size=3>Haringey has a variety of Parks and Green Spaces,
from ornamental gardens to nature reserves, woodlands and sports pitches.
These open spaces provide a huge range of opportunities both for wildlife
and for local residents, some of whom have no other access to
any sizeable free outdoor space or nature.<br>
<br>
What do our parks and green spaces offer:<br>
<br>
• Beautiful gardens for people to sit and relax in<br>
• Havens for wildlife that people can enjoy and learn about<br>
• Football pitches for organised, casual and school use<br>
• Healthy walking routes for gentle exercise<br>
• Playgrounds for children to gain new skills & experience
adventure<br>
• Safe tracks for joggers and cyclists<br>
• Pleasant shortcuts to work, home and school<br>
• Places for outdoor picnics and parties<br>
• Places where the community can mix and meet<br>
• Outdoor venues to study nature<br>
• Opportunities for volunteering and conservation work<br>
• Areas to play tennis and basketball<br>
• Cafes where people can meet others<br>
• Permanent jobs, apprenticeships and training<br>
<br>
In short, all life goes on in our open spaces, where people relax, meet,
play, exercise, learn and work.<br>
<br>
Research shows that <i>“ 87% of people have used their park or
green space in the past year, more than any other public service, and 95%
of people thought it was very or fairly important to have green spaces
near to where they live.” … “ if people are satisfied with their local
park they tend to be satisfied with their local authority.”<br>
</font></i><font size=2>Commission for Architecture and the Built
Environment (CABE)<br>
<br>
</font><font size=4><b>IMPROVEMENTS... NOT CUTS<br>
<br>
</font></b><font size=3>Over the past few years, hundreds of local
residents in Friends Groups have worked really hard to publicise our
green spaces, and to ensure they are better managed and improved. As a
result Haringey’s parks have gone from, in many cases, forlorn areas of
neglect to blooming, attractive places where local residents want to
<br>
go. Although the number of Green Flag awards to parks in Haringey
has increased, there is still a long way to go to get the
resources necessary to maintain and develop green spaces for
future generations. In the 1980s there were around 300 gardeners and
park keepers, now there are less than a third of that number. Many park
<br>
buildings, facilities and equipment is in desperate need of repair and
refurbishment.<br>
<br>
A well-resourced park can be the heart of a community, feeding into all
the positive aspects of human society. An under-resourced park can soon
deteriorate and become a negative space full of fear and anti-social
activity. It will not make any economic sense to make more cuts in parks
and recreation budgets given the huge contribution <br>
they make.<br>
<br>
Parks and green spaces offer fantastic value for money. In a time when
one of the overriding social concerns is the need for community cohesion,
our local parks and green spaces are an invaluable asset to the
Borough.<br>
<br>
Parks are a democratic institution, they cater for, and matter to
everyone - people of all ages, backgrounds, interests and abilities. Like
education, housing and health, recreation and access to nature is a human
need and right. Let’s ensure all public services get the resources they
need from local and central government.<br>
<br>
</font><font size=4><b>Fight against all cuts in public expenditure<br>
- increase spending on frontline public services!<br>
<br>
</b>_____________________________________________________________________________________<br>
<br>
</font><font size=3>This leaflet is produced by the Haringey Friends of
Parks Forum, the umbrella network for the 30 Friends Groups across the
borough. <br>
See: haringeyfriendsofparks.org.uk
</font><font size=2><i>Supported by the Haringey Federation of Residents
Associations:
<a href="http://www.haringeyresidents.org/" eudora="autourl">www.haringeyresidents.org</a>
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