Belfast City Council is seeking public input on longer park hours, aiming to enhance community access and safety in local green spaces.
Belfast: The city is buzzing with talk about park hours. The council wants to know what locals think about keeping parks open longer. They’re focusing on the new Forth Meadow Greenway and four major parks.
Next month, they’ll hold consultations about opening hours for Ormeau Park, Falls Park, Woodvale Park, and Belmont Park. The Forth Meadow Greenway is a 12km stretch that connects various green spaces in the area. It’s got lighting along the route, which means it could be open 24/7.
Right now, the greenway is open from dawn to dusk. This consultation will help decide if longer hours are a good idea. They’ll also look at local factors that might affect this decision.
The consultation will cover access gates in four sections of the greenway. The results will be shared with elected members in the Spring. If they get the green light, a one-year trial will follow.
To keep everyone safe, a closure protocol will be set up with the PSNI. They want to hear from users during the consultation, which runs until February 12. There will also be in-person sessions at local community centers.
Back in 2020, there was a plan for extended hours at three parks, but it got delayed due to COVID. A trial in Botanic Gardens showed some issues with antisocial behavior, so they’re being cautious.
The council will have an online survey and drop-in sessions to gather feedback. They’re also reaching out to community stakeholders and the PSNI for input.
Surveys will be available from February 3 to March 5, with drop-in sessions scheduled at various parks. They’re also considering lighting improvements for parks that currently lack it.
Overall, this is a great chance for the community to weigh in on how they want to use their parks. The feedback will help shape future developments and improvements.
