Whatever has happened to Parkforce?

by Michael Smith (Veshengro)

A couple of years ago amid great fanfare the Commission for Architecture and the Build Environment(CABE) launched Parkforce – a force for the good of the common, so to speak – to “improve the standing of parks and open spaces”. But what now? Where is Parkforce gone to?

While there are still publications, and very good ones at that, as regards to parks and open spaces, being put out by CABE no mention is made of Parkforce itself any longer, which was to have been a flagship thing.

Annual competitions were to be for “Park Keeper of the Year” ans such like but that only happened once and that appears to have been it.

The seminars that were being held appertaining to parks and open spaces were good and very informative but many of them also seem to have fallen by the wayside.

It is also a most unfortunate fact that is and when CABE has a booth at this or that event this never seems to be manned.

Once again, it would appear, a great opportunity to do something positive for and about Britain's parks and open spaces has been allowed to go to waste.

Most, if not indeed all, Quangos set up by the British government or those aided by it, are, so it would appear, all about gimmicks without substance and no more.

Many park staff who joined are proud to wear the Parkforce badge and to follow the pledge that they took but, alas, that what was supposed to stand behind and support it seems to have, sadly, gone.

If CABE has, more or less, given up on Parkforce maybe a relaunch is called for an d it should then be run by parks officers.

This suggestion is, at present, intended as some kind of food for thought but if Parkforce members are interested it might be good to take it further.

© 2009
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