21/4/2008Make Victoria Park more peaceful
Victoria Park is a wonderful part of Whiteinch.
It's tragic that a road was built through it 40 years ago, but surely it's now time to return peace to the park?
Short of burying the road in a tunnel, how about the following?
1. Grow a thick hedge around the park boundary. Block both the sight and sound of the traffic.
2. Get rid of the noisy generators for the ice cream vans and bouncy castles. Install metred power points instead.
3. Build a proper toilet block, open up the crazy golf, and bring back rowing boats.
Anyone got other ideas?
Conor I like your line of thinking - just tragic that Culture And Leisure was effectively privatised or turned into a "Charitable Trust" - now Culture And Sport. The available funds from this switch are yet to be made clear - but apart from this being what appears to be a tax-dodge by the council, it shows how disinterested it is in our ameneties. My suggestions would be: 1. Introduce trampolines within the park. ( at ground level) with pits underneath them. 2. Have a cafe or socialising area within the park which is indoors and undercover. 3. Upgrade and maintain the red blaise/blaze pitch and hold regular tournaments on it. 4. Upgrade and maintain the tennis courts and install new baskets for basket/net ball players. 5. Consult with the local community to see what they'ed like to have added to the park so it can be used as a means of keeping kids entertained and amused, and away from hanging out on street corners - potentially intimidating some older - elderly residents. 6. Build a conceted over skateboard - rollerblading park - area like Kelvingrove Park has. The list of suggestions are endless - funding is there if people, and community groups look hard enough for it - put together a constitution and make the right decisions for the benefit of the community the park serves.
I agree with a lot of the above, but would not like to see a Skate Board park installed - grey concrete in an area so beautiful? No thanks! I would reinstall the boats on the pond - after clearing it first of all the debris and rubbish. I would have the clock properly restored and stripped of that hideous paint and something much more appropriate put in place. The toliets should be permanent, a cafe would certainly be welcomed by me and the restoration of the crazy golf could be considered but I feel that's lost its attraction - I may be wrong! I would also rebuild the pavillion, look after the sports areas; blaze pitch, tennis courts, etc. I would open up the side gate on Westland Drive to allow easier disabled access and change the access at the park at the corner of Victoria Park Drive South and Westland Drive. Actually, I would resite the original Jubilee Gates at this end as they were donated by the ladies of Partick - and they used to be at the Whiteinch/Balshagray Entrance. Of course they were moved to Jordanhill end - but they belong to Whiteinch and the park's gates should returned to that part of the park. I would also ensure that there is more seating, a bbq area (under cover) as they have in many Canadian parks - and they are only timber framed. I know the vandals can get in and destroy, but opening up the park and bringing in more activities can turn the vandal into someone who cares for their patch. With just a little imagination - this could be a real oasis!