Getting ready for spring

Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council are pleased to be working with a local group and local schools to improve parks while teaching children outside of the classroom.

East Redcar Residents Association are a community group working specifically in the Zetland and West Dyke Wards. Their aim is to tackle any issues in the area that directly affect the community and work to secure funding to bring about improvements to the area. This summer a subsidiary group has been formed to look after each of the four parks in their area. The new group, East Redcar Parks Group is committed to improving the parks in East Redcar. These are:

• The Stray Paddling Pool
• Lily Park
• Borough Park
• Holyhead Park

Working with Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council Neighbourhood Officers the group have formed relationships with four local Primary Schools who each are adopting their own park. The aim is to provide strong links with the local community across all ages whilst enabling children to learn and develop outside of the classroom. It is hoped that ownership and involvement of the area will help to reduce vandalism and anti social behaviour.

Children from John Emmerson Batty School will be starting this off by joining members of the East Redcar Parks Group alongside members of the Neighbourhood Management team in Lily Park, Coast Road this Thursday to plant spring bulbs and flowers. The children who are involved in the schools ECO Group, have shown a great interest in the environment and wish to learn more whilst also improving the area they live in. All the bulbs and flowers to be planted have been donated by the East Redcar Parks Group.

Councillor Sheelagh Clarke, Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council's Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure, Tourism and Rural Affairs said "This is a brilliant idea. Bridging the gap between the local authority and community groups helps to empower people in their own area. The involvement of our young people shows the community that all of us can take part in improving the area no matter what age. Walkers will now be able to enjoy the parks next spring thanks to their hard work".

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