The Community of Wish Park users and residents are concerned by the loss of facilities at the park and the council’s responses to return and maintain them.

We have raised this petition to gauge the community’s support for having this issue discussed at the appropriate council committee. This will ensure the correct focus is applied and the residents and users will have visibility of the council’s plans for maintaining facilities to promote the community’s health and well-being. We understand we need to reach 1250 signatures for this petition to be raised at committee, please sign.  

Back Ground 

Wish Park is one of the few areas in the city where residents can enjoy recreational activities in the heart of their community.

The park offers:

• Football for girls, boys and adult teams– Two large local clubs use it as their base and there are multiple holiday clubs.
• Cricket used for weekend and midweek games over the summer
• Friends group that organises the upkeep of the park and recreational activities
• Local schools and nurseries use the space and playground
• Vibrant social networks have developed around the Café supporting groups of all ages and interests
• Exercise classes run by independents providers for many resident types
• Informal gatherings and family events for many multi-cultural groups

Sadly, there has been a deterioration of the park which has now come to a head with recent events that we believe were predictable and could have been avoided, examples:

• Outside gym removed – promised to be replaced but never was
• Dangerous football pitches now closed due to lack of maintenance/repair; children have suffered serious injury and council advises not expected to be repaired this season.
• Cricket Square disappearing as no longer maintained and fenced off, the public unaware and have started cycling and playing football on the square
• Planted areas becoming overgrown and dangerous - Gardening group suspended as residents have become disengaged

Many local groups and residents have tried to contact the council parks department to address these issues but no progress is being made and no plans to change the direction of neglect.

The impacts are appearing very fast:

• Children and adults missing out on exercise – physical and mental health is being affected with some children feeling isolated through lack of social contact
• At a time of cost-of-living crisis access to affordable facilities for exercise is being withdrawn, impacting the most vulnerable members of our community – this is counter to the council’s own health and wellbeing strategy
• Without the active groups in the area the park will become less welcoming and safe, likely to become a target for antisocial behaviour

Please sign this petition – efforts of groups and individuals to move this forward with the council and councillors have proved difficult.  Getting it in front of a committee will provide the awareness of the issue and help the council to assign the priority it deserves.