The call came in a report from the Commons communities and local government committee, published on 11 February, which warns that parks are at a “tipping point” and could fall into a period of decline without a shift in thinking about the value they bring.
Parks have seen their management budgets cut by up to 97% and they need to compete with other services for funding, while pressures to find land for new homes are putting parkland further under threat.
Chair Clive Betts said: “Every local authority should have a strategic plan, recognising that parks are much more than just grass and tulips and bringing in resources from outside traditional budgets.
“Parks make vital contributions to physical and mental health and bring significant community benefits. They also contribute to biodiversity and climate change mitigation and assist in local economic growth.”
The report suggests that innovative funding and management models may be needed to sustain parks in the long term.
It recommends that public parks remain under local authority ownership and freely available to everyone. The document also urges parks minister Andrew Percy to work with colleagues in the Department for Environment & Rural Affairs to ensure parks and green infrastructure in general are properly recognised in the forthcoming 25-year environment plan.
Ian Stephens, chair of the Local Government Association’s culture, tourism and sport board, said: “Councils understand how important parks are to residents and the value they have in promoting health and fitness, local heritage, public art, festivals and wildlife walks.
"Councils are taking innovative approaches to using park spaces, such as providing pop-up spaces, hosting local events and giving communities a say in how their parks are run.”
Read PF’s Park Strife feature here
