Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment
Public space
Parkforce
Ten thousand park workers are wearing the badge. Over 130 councils have signed up. The Parkforce Awards showcased the best teams around the UK. Parkforce is changing minds, policies and priorities.
Why do we need a Parkforce?
Parkies, park keepers, park rangers, park wardens - whatever the job title, people in our parks make all the difference. It's the difference between no-go areas and let's-go areas. The presence of dedicated park staff encourages people back into our green spaces.
Only by investing in the multi-skilled, committed individuals that make up a Parkforce can we encourage the public to make the most of their green spaces. As our Parks need Parkforce report points out:
- 39 per cent of women feel unsafe in London’s green spaces - 89 per cent of them said more staff would make them feel safer.
- In Sunderland's parks, the cost of repairs needed because of vandalism decreased from £40,570 in 1993/94 to £2,410 in 1998/99 following the introduction of a park warden scheme in the intervening years.
That's why we're asking local authorities to take the Parkforce Pledge and everyone whose work takes them into a park to wear their Parkforce badge with pride.
Paying for your Parkforce
The Paying for your Parkforce conference on 6 October will help people who run parks to address the challenge of funding their park staff. The free conference is aimed at local authority parks departments and will see the launch of two new publications to help councils navigate through the funding maze.
The Parkforce awards
Paul Spriggs, an urban park development ranger from Rotherham in South Yorkshire, was announced as Britain's best park worker for the inspiring work he does with the town’s young people. Leicester City Council's parks service has been named Britain's best parkforce.
Who's joined the Parkforce?
Over one hundred and thirty local authorities and organisations have taken the Parkforce Pledge. You care about parks - join them.
New York's Parkforce
CABE Space took the Parkforce campaign on the road in November 2005. Head US Ranger, Sarah Aucoin and New York's Director of Park Ranger Services, Sara Hobel toured parks and green spaces around the UK, sharing ideas and best practice with UK park managers. They explained how an innovative approach to staffing helped turn around parks in New York City.
If you missed it, read their speech. And if you were there, tell us what you thought.
