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• Knowsley urged to vote for favourite park

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Knowsley is being asked to vote for its favourite park as part of a campaign led by Merseyside Police to encourage people to take more pride in their public spaces.

Six parks are involved in the poll, which follows the SafeSpace initiative’s official launch with the support of Lords Minister for Communities and Local Government Baroness Kay Andrews.

The parks included in the Knowsley poll are St Chads Gardens and Webster Park in Kirkby, Halewood Park, McGoldrick and Court Hey Parks in Huyton, and Henley Park in Whiston.

People have until August 27 to register their votes before the region’s favourite park is announced at the start of September.

Click here to cast your vote

Some of Knowsley’s famous residents are getting behind the campaign. Everton FC’s Alan Stubbs, originally from Kirkby, said: “When I was a kid we would play football in the park whenever we could.

“It’s obviously better to play on grass than in the street even though it was ‘jumpers for goalposts’. If there is park space nearby where you live I would always urge you to use it.”

Superintendent Alan Barr, one of the force’s senior officers in Knowsley, said: “Knowsley’s parks are some of the most historic and interesting in the UK, and the idea behind this poll is to encourage the public to think about exactly what they mean to them, the people who enjoy them on a regular basis.

Sheena Ramsey, Chief Excecutive of Knowsley Council, added: “The poll is an excellent opportunity for everyone to express their pride and attachment to Knowsley’s parks.

“We all have fond memories of our parks and open spaces, whether they’re playing in them as children, or relaxing and appreciating the serenity as adults, and it is fantastic to see efforts to encourage people to reconnect with them this summer. I would encourage everybody to get voting.”

Knowsley’s parks and open spaces boast a number of unique facts, with Bowring Park being the first park to be opened under the Open Spaces Act 1906 and Halewood Park containing a stretch of the 207 mile Trans Pennine cycle route.

SafeSpace is a partnership working over the summer holidays in Merseyside to encourage communities to reclaim the parks and open spaces in their locality.

Many events are being organised over the following weeks aimed at instilling a renewed pride in the parks of Merseyside, including wildlife spotting sessions, family fun days and sporting events.

The campaign is also focussing on tackling problems such as litter, graffiti and anti-social behaviour through incorporating Merseyside Police’s Total Policing initiative.

Polls to discover the public’s favourite parks are also being carried out in North and South Liverpool, Wirral, Sefton and St Helens. To vote for your favourite park in Knowsley, visit Safespace in Knowsley .

For more information visit: www.merseyside.police.uk/safespace.


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