12 Aug 2008

RAIN DOESN'T DAMPEN WALLASEY'S PARKLIFE!

Young people from around Wirral weren't put off by the recent showers as they partied in Wallasey's Central Park as part of the SafeSpace Initiative sponsored by Live Wirral, the Housing Market Renewal Initiative.

From Beat the Goalie and Samba Drumming to Climbing Walls and Smoothie tasting, youngsters and families joined in the event; which involved partnership organisations, Merseyside Police, Wirral Council's Respect and Anti Social Behaviour Team, the Live Wirral Wardens and the Primary Care Trust.

SafeSpace is aimed at encouraging people to get out into the fresh air and enjoy using Merseyside's parks and open spaces. It supports Merseyside Police's Total Policing approach to tackling issues such as anti-social behaviour.

The idea is to make parks and open spaces safer and more welcoming putting the local park at the heart of a thriving community.

Heather Duncan from Merseyside Police who is leading the initiative in Wirral said:

"Parks and green spaces should be welcoming places where children and their parents can enjoy healthy exercise. They're green havens for all of us and also provide vital habitats for plants and wildlife. There's a whole world outside to discover. Our officers visited schools before the summer holidays started to encourage children to learn about - and explore - the richness of their local open spaces. We've organised a fun-filled programme of activities to encourage families back into the open to see what's on offer."

Chris Bowen Housing Market Renewal Manager for Wirral Council said:

"We're delighted to support the SafeSpace initiative as it goes hand in hand with the wider regeneration of the area where HMR is working. A well cared for park can improve the attractiveness of a neighbourhood, the health and well- being of local people and expand the educational opportunities of children and adults alike."

Merseyside boasts a world-renowned collection of parks and open spaces. Of all the fabulous recreational facilities available across the six boroughs, the parks and open spaces remain arguably the most versatile and popular.