Double parkie boost for Willmott Park

Published by webmaster for Bristol City Council in Communities

The appointment of two, new park keepers for Willmott Park in Hartcliffe marks the start of a new £200,000 park improvement project in south Bristol.

The project, which has the backing of the city council, Safer Bristol Partnership, Continental Landscapes Ltd and the Hartcliffe and Withywood Community Partnership (HWCP), will see the transformation of Willmott Park for the benefit of the local community and natural environment.

This follows the setting up of the Willmott Park Group by local residents, councillors, the police, Bristol Parks and Safer Bristol this spring in order to improve the park and tackle anti-social behaviour
 
Darren Jones and Sam Neffendorf will be working with local people to ensure the park is kept well maintained, clean and tidy for everyone to enjoy. In addition, the park keepers will be asking local people for their views about how they want to see the park developed in the future. The aim is to re-design Willmott Park and make it a safer, more attractive park, which will encourage more visitors from the local area.

The introduction of park keepers will also help to tackle anti-social behaviour in the park including vandalism, reported crime, sex and drug litter and fly-tipping.

Councillor Simon Cook, Bristol's executive member for culture and leisure, said: "The council's Parks Improvement Project aims to improve the quality of parks in priority areas of the city. This means taking a new approach, involving effective partnership working with local communities, higher levels of grounds maintenance and real capital investment."

"We welcome the introduction of park keepers to Willmott Park. I know they are keen to meet with local people, hear their ideas for improvements and get to work straight away to transform the park into a place where people will want to come with family and friends - and enjoy everything the park has to offer."

Teresa Anstey, Director of HWCP, added: "HWCP fully supports this initiative which builds on the good work previously funded through the SRB 5 regeneration funding. The presence of park keepers will help people feel more secure about using the park and build the capacity of local people to get more involved in helping to shape its future design"

Local residents can have their say about the future designs of the park by talking to the park keepers or contacting Bristol Parks on 0117 922 3719, emailing bristolparks@bristol-city.gov.uk, or by logging onto www.bristol-city.gov.uk/parks 

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