Advice: Want a playground in our local park.

[dkgfv]

I am London based, and the closest playground to me is quite a long walk. There is a much closer park that has lots of space, but there's just lots of grass and a couple of trees. There are lots of parents in the area. I would quite like the local council to put in a playground, or at least some swings, and I think lots of other people would benefit from this too.

Does anyone know how to go about asking the council? And what steps I would need to take to make it happen?

Find out who your local councillor is and email them or visit them if they offer face to face appointments.

Get a group of local parents together. "Friends of the Something Park". You'll get a lot more traction with a group behind you.

But honestly, right now with council budgets frankly not coping, what's in it for them to make the investment? You're going to need to raise the funds, or at least have a plan for doing so. Grants. Sponsorship. Community support. https://fun-play.co.uk/playground-funding-ultimate-guide-to-government-initiatives/

Do you know anyone locally who shares the same interest? If so, try and get a small working group together.

Do a survey. Hold a consultation event in the park. Make sure everyone is consulted. Make it an open consultation- ie - question shd b something like: ‘what could we do with this area of land to benefit the community?’ rather than ‘do you think we should have a park?’

councillors tend to only progress things when they can see evidence of local need.

expect some opposition. There will be people who object and will see it as somewhere teens want to gather of an evening.

Think outside the box with play spaces- they don’t have to be traditional swings etc. you might find it easier to get support if it responds to other local need too - eg - some seating for elderly, a picnic bench which has wheelchair access etc

good luck!!!! Love a bit of community action 😀❤️

These people might be able to help, or point you in the right direction. https://londonplay.org.uk/

coucils are cash-strapped and if ther e are flats right next to falts - most people wont want screaming kids - so it wont happen but you are at your liberty to try

Thank-you everyone! It looks like there's some really useful advice here. Wish me luck :)

@DistinguishedSocialCommentator why won't people in flats want "screaming kids" nearby - because that's usually where those kids live 🙄
@dkgfv a group of parents managed to do this near where I live so it can be done.
As others have said contact your local council as a starting point.
Good Luck !

As often the case, NIMBY

Importantly, not everyone has kids or kids of playground age

You can write to the Clerk of the Council, and put your request for a playground in it. State all the reasons why it would benefit the local community, and ask that your letter be read out and discussed at the next full Town Council meeting. Some councils make a provision for members of the public to attend certain meetings and allow them to speak on a particular matter, so there is no harm in asking.

I did this around 25 years ago. The playground is now there, but dc grew up in the meantime!!