Can We Get Our Parks Back?

A bottle of water laced with lemon crystals, jam butties and off we would go years ago, to enjoy a nice summer’s day in one of our lovely parks. The people who used the parks respected and appreciated what they had, in the midst of those dark satanic mills.

We would go to Philips Park, Queens Park or Boggart Hole Clough. There was no fear of being set on by hooligans or mugged for what little we had.

The reason we felt so safe was partly due to the presence of the ‘parkies’, in today’s terms a park ranger. Do we have one in Philips Park today?

In today’s society people of all ages from infants to old age pensioners wouldn’t take the risk of a walk in the park. In any case the parks have become so dilapidated, it would no longer be such a pleasure. But would there be as much vandalism if there was more security?

What a treat it would be to get the parks back again, to enjoy a good brass band playing in the band stand, to take in the magnificent floral views on ‘Tulip Sunday’ in Philips Park, and to witness the pure pleasure of children feeding the ducks or splashing in the paddling pool.

The press button age doesn’t know what it is missing. Even with all the poverty, people knew how to make the best of things.

Is it a futile dream or is there hope for our parks?
Ethel Connor