Safety and access to public spaces, like Abington/Pitsford Parks, are personal matters to many of us. The parks are widely used by joggers, dog walkers, and families during winter months. However, current inadequate lighting restricts our complete enjoyment of these public spaces and raises serious safety concerns. I was shocked to see how dark both Pitsford and Abington park were at 5pm and noticed children playing in the dark on the climbing frames at Pitsford. Abington was much of a black out at 5.30pm for dog walkers & joggers alike . Parks play a vital part in community life and lighting is more of public necessity. 

These parks play an important role in our community and should be available for use safely, regardless of the season. Upgrading the low-level lighting will not only enhance visibility but also boost the confidence of users, as the paths would be safer and more secure. Children would also be able to continue using the play equipment in the winter months which is also very important. This need not be on all night but just for an additional few hours during the evenings, this would allow some extra valuable outdoor time which is invaluable to many families around this time of year, when many are cooped up for hours. It should also provide safety for joggers & dog walkers who also need to continue using the parks during the winter months. 

According to a report by Crime & Security Research Institute at Cardiff University, a good lighting system can reduce crime by up to 20% (A. Davies, A. Farrington, Cardiff University 2019) and a similar report by the Institution of Lighting Professionals states such improvements foster a greater sense of community among park-users (ILP, 2020).

Therefore, the necessity of improved lighting in Abington/Pitsford Parks is urgent to protect our people. It is a straightforward and critical step toward making our parks safer for local communities and preserving public safety in these prized local areas. Sign the petition today — let's light the way for safer parks.