Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Finsbury Park's in Harringay Ward, but it doesn't feel like it..........
Well, look, it's just that the whole park's in our ward, supposedly in our manor, on our patch, but what do we get by way of entry access? A little gateway right on the edge of the borough boundary on Green Lanes.
I suppose it's because the north eastern part of the park is separated from the rest by the new river and that part is used as a baseball pitch.
Call me an old loon, do, but I think we'd feel much more like the park was in our manor if we had a Harringay entrance. I've often said that it's a shame that we have no major public space in Harringay. So, having grumbled to myself about how there ought to be a Harrringay Gate, I thought about that baseball bit of the park on the corner of Endymion. I don't want the guys to lose their pitch, but it could easly be resited and then we could create a public space for Harringay in that corner........maybe a nice little bridge over the river - now much of it's open to the public anyway, there's no need to keep it fenced off any more.
So, am I just a loon or does this idea appeal to anyone else?
Tags for Forum Posts: cricket pitch, finsbury park, harringay boundaries, new river, town square for harringay
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by StephenBln on
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thanks Hugh, I didn't expect such a fast response!
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Permalink Reply by Alison P on
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Great to get the information about the softball - we had some great times last summer watching from the sidelines and its good to know more about the Mets.
I really like the idea of trying to do more with the American garden. Never quite sure what that bit of the park is about, apart from just being a space for dog owners! That said, I did see some kids playing cricket there a fair bit last year and I generally think its good to keep lots of open space.
Must admit we always bypass the playground there as the stuff in it is for older kids (don't think anything there for toddlers, which is a shame).
The thing that has always struck me (from a purely selfish point of view of someone who lives midway down the 'ladder') is how pointless the positioning of the existing Harringay/New River entrance is. It would make sense if you could just stroll all the way down the passage - but of course you can't get through after Umfraville Rd because of the Railway Fields reserve - so you have to detour via Green Lanes or Wightman Road. So assuming we can't really have another GL gate, for all the reasons already mentioned, any support for a gate up nearer the Wightman Rd roundabout? Any further west and it would be too near the main Stroud Green gate - and any further east it would be too near the existing New River one.
P.S Anyone know if they have finished the resurfacing work on the New River path??
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Permalink Reply by Madeline on
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A Wightman Rd entrance might be a bit dodgy for pedestrians given the traffic layout there.
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Permalink Reply by Hugh
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Nearly 20 years on, I've learned that there was just the gate I was wishing for when the park first opened - https://harringayonline.com/group/historyofharringay/forum/topics/w..
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Permalink Reply by Clive Carter
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Hugh, I could not agree more.
The park has long presented a cold face to the north with a single, narrow poorly-sited entrance by the New River. It's little better than a door.
In my view, there ought to be a decent sized entrance in the north-east corner and another entrance opposite the southern end of Alroy Road (i.e. at the end of Wightman Road. I once asked Jeremy Corbyn MP (Patron of the Friends of Fisnbury Park) about this and he agreed.
Haringey Council will not listen. The leader's main or only interest in the park is in its commercial exploitation. The focus is on the rebel borough of culture next year.
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I was hoping my discovery of an original Harringay gate might help tip the balance.
Knowing the money available from the NCIL is insufficient, I put it in as an NCIL idea anyway.
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EIGHT years ago, the High Court held inter alia, that all money raised on the back of Finsbury Park, must be spent in Finsbury Park.
Since then, the council has generated millions of pounds in hires to their big customers. If the council genuinely abided by the Court ruling, then there would have been more than sufficient money available to improve our park.
As it is, our public park is being neglected, if not steadily run down. Anyone doubting this might care to walk around the northern path, particularly through the Krankbrother quarter.
The Events Team call the shots; little money is spent if it does not benefit their corporate customers.
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Permalink Reply by Straw Cat
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Hugh, it's still going on - in the latest draft Haringey Local Plan, a whole section on Alexandra Park and the Palace is put under "Muswell Hill neighbourhood".
Er, they aren't in Muswell Hill ... they're both in Wood Green and always have been ...
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Permalink Reply by Eddy
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There is a harringay gate, on Endymion road. It may not be where you would like it. The softball /baseball team have spent a loa lot of effort developing their pitch, dog walkers and other randomers should keep off it, they have the rest of the park.
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The Endymion gate is very much a back entrance and feels like it. The original, Harringay Gate was the same size as the other three main park entrances.
I'm very happy for the baseball field to keep their field and I haven't at any point over the past 20 years suggested that I have my eyes on it. They don't use the corner. I'm suggesting only a small area and I can't see that it would do any harm to the amenity of the sports field.
Are you telling me, Eddy that that corner area is critical to the effective functioning of the baseball field?
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