Cash to reclaim our public parks
A policing chief has launched a £110,000 bid to help local people ‘reclaim’ public parks – and make them safer.
Sunderland’s Mowbray Park is one of six included in Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuinness’ Safer Parks Project and she is putting up the cash to help local people put their ideas for them into action.
Ms McGuinness says she wants to see family fun days, women’s safety parades, community clear-ups and parkbased picnics breathe new life into open spaces and is inviting local groups to bid for funding to help improve public confidence, park safety and ultimately reduce crime.
She said: “We’re lucky to have some really great parks in the area but 62% of local women told me they felt ‘unsafe or very unsafe’ in their local park at night. That needs to change and so I am inviting people to help me reclaim our parks.
“We need to address the barriers and concerns headon – tackling equality and fighting for rights.
“We really shouldn’t underestimate
how our parks can benefit the health and well-being of communities and they’re free to use for running, cycling, dog-walking and family time.
"We can only really make the most of these spaces if people feel safe and comfortable using them. Events celebrating our parks or standing up for our right to be safe in them are exactly what we are looking for.”
Other parks involved in the project include North Marine Park in South Shields.
As part of the Commissioner’s Safer Parks Project, a number of other improvements are being rolled out specifically to help women, girls and marginalised groups
feel safe as well as helping to reduce crime – including better lighting, help points and cutting back of vegetation to aid visibility.
As well as improving women’s safety, a lot of these improvements will also help reduce other crime such as anti-social behaviour, drug dealing, and hate crime.
The funding is being made available following the PCC’s successful bid to the Home Office’s Safer Streets Fund.
Visit https://northumbriapcc.gov.uk/your-priorities/ policy-and-commissioning/ current-funding-opportunities/safer-parks-northumbria-fund/
Applications close on February 9.