Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Parks: Water Fountains, Paddling Pools, Bins - etc...
Is it me, but the infrastructure in our parks just feels shabby, unloved, and suffering a real crisis of management?
I have followed Katie H's discussion on the fact all/ most of the paddling pools in....
I was on a run this morning, and went through Priory Park. Its hot, so I went to look for the water fountain we knew was behind the café.
I actually saw the reason for the paddling pool being out of action- a wocking hole in the middle. Really, like it has not been there all winter?
Anyway, no functioning water fountain either (not sure if there is another water point in the park?).
So, ever hopeful, we went on and tried to find the water fountain next to the café in Highgate Wood. Honestly, I would not let my dog drink from this. It’s an absolute petri dish! There is green crap growing round the plug.
We went on to the obelisk to the water fountain there. Not working.
You go into parks on a hot day or afterwards and there is rubbish everywhere. Some folks try and do the right thing and rubbish is piled up by bins, or foxes get in and drag out the BBQ remnants.
Why is none of this being thought about and managed- its not like its a shock people might want to use our parks?
- Temporarily put those industrial wheeled bins in parks so take the overflowing rubbish (it will save staff time in cleaning up afterwards and foxes will not get into them)
- Let’s have fox proof bins, or bins emptied as regularly as possible
- Let’s have a proper maintenance planning cycle for paddling pools and get them open
- Can we not get water fountains functioning in a healthy way
Come on Haringey- we can do better!
Tags for Forum Posts: parks
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Brian Mahoney
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I completely agree. But rather than just focusing on these summer-related jobs, they should have a calendar of things that need to happen seasonally. Yes, fountains and water points ready for summer but also grit ordered and distributed ready for the inevitable ice/snow etc.
My pet peeve is the way the council approach the timing of London plane tree pollarding. It tends to happen every two years and mid-Spring. This means that there is little regrowth and thus few leaves in time for the summer. Why not do it at the end of Autumn when it would be cheaper (ie. smaller job for the tree surgeons and cheaper due to less demand for their services). The branches would then have time to grow and provide some leaf coverage for the following Summer.
I had always assumed that the timing was for arborilogical reasons but once asked the tree surgeons and they said it was due to the council budgeting cycle.
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Permalink Reply by Justin Guest
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I have always wondered that Brian about the trees- I seems like they are done annually across the lines in Crouch End, and that enclave around Stroud Green Library, always after the tree has leafed- it must stress the tree out no end.
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I asked this too once and got the same reply as Bryan. It must be so much easier to do without the leaves. Maybe one of the accountants has realised that if you stop the leaves from growing they don't have to pay to sweep them up in autumn.
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Permalink Reply by Liz
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A question surely for Cllr Gio Iozzi - the new Cabinet Member for Climate Action - who has been very active with the Haringey Tree Protectors in Stroud Green. Can we get a new way to deal with trees in this borough?
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A couple of years ago the council put up some banners in parks in the summer, asking people not to BBQ, litter, wee in the bushes, play amplified music etc. It would be good to remind people of these basic niceties.
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Permalink Reply by adamvietnam
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Not wanting to be a pedant but, for the avoidance of confusion, the original post was about Paddling Pools not Lidos
The Lido at Park Rd - is going strong and I would recommend to all.
Perhaps amend the title in case anyone is put off visiting
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Fair enough- done.
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nice one - thanks Justin
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Yes mate, kike a cucumber at 0 K
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