BBC Radio 4 2016-04-16

BBC Radio 4 2016-04-16

Good Morning

When was the last time you went for a walk in your local park? I imagine, for many of you, it depends on where you live? But for millions of urban dwellers, parks remain often unsung, vital patches of open space where people meet, children play and well-behaved dogs can have a field day.

I’ve been listening rather uneasily all week to the ongoing debate about third-party organisations or individuals using parks as venues for organised events which then have obvious, knock-on costs for local councils and authorities.

In that debate I’ve heard that parks are for everyone? And, surely anything that can be done to get people together doing exercise to combat obesity and get them away from their electronic gadgets should be applauded? Well, yes! And yes! But the Fabian Society recently warned that spending on public parks is likely to drop whilst the costs of maintaining them are not cheap.

In my former parish in East London, East Ham Central Park was a real community hub. The Sunday afternoon children’s football tournament with young players from every conceivable faith and ethnicity, the Asian women’s exercise class in the Rose Garden, and the three jogging Sikhs who waved at me every morning at 6am as our boxer dog led me round the park. Every race, every creed, all of human life were enjoying God’s creation simply by being outside. It certainly made the ice cream van queue interesting!

I’d go as far as to say that parks are vital to the spiritual health and wellbeing of many urban areas. In the New Testament, where much of the action takes place out of doors, Jesus and his followers frequently adjourn to open, common land including, of course, the famous small park known as the garden of Gethsemane at the foot of the Mount of Olives.

Back in East London , I had the best conversations, as a local priest, with long serving park keeper Eric who would work from dawn till dusk with his colleagues keeping this vital community space free from litter, beautifully cut and preserved, welcoming everyone. I always went home totally full of admiration for their unsung work in keeping this space beautiful and accessible to all.

I can actually understand why the Royal Parks and some local authorities have started to levy charges for a share of any commercial income or subsidies granted to third parties who use the parks as their theatre for action. It is critical that everyone in the community feels responsible for keeping our parks in good shape and open to all. The loss of them would devastating.

It’s a paradox that the actual phrase “It’s a walk in the park” suggests that something is easy – straightforward – nice, even.

Long may it continue!