Dear Angie, Thank you for your comments and I will keep writing Articles if people are interested! Dulwich Park has a Bowling Green and Tennis courts. The tennis courts are free for everyone to use, just turn up and play!
In another Park I worked in, the local children did lots of damage to the Bowling green and tennis courts and anything else they could. So the Park manager brought in a scheme where people could come and work in the Park for half a day or a day if they wished. At first we did not think anyone would turn up, but they did. Parents at first and then they brought their children. We were shocked that the parents were bringing children who were known troublemakers to work in the Park. But it worked for us because for the slight cost of cups of tea and coffee and sandwiches etc. the people learnt the damage done and how hard it was to repair it and the trouble caused to other Park users by it! For their trouble they got a free round of Golf as well as the children, or tennis, football etc.
Within three months there was never any damage done to the Park at all, for word got round and peer pressure worked. Instead of the Park spending thousands on repairing things, people treasured "their Park!" It worked for us and I can see why Dulwich do it!
Regards.
Neil.
