We are told that Phoenix Park is one of the main District Park's in Wolverhampton ???

Why did we start this large scale community project, its simple, Phoenix Park was very under developed, not much more than an open field.

The park was overrun by Drugs & Drug Dealers, It was rife with all sorts of Antisocial Behaviour, the residents around the park got fed up with this, some of the residents attended the City Council’s user park group, we had done this for a couple of years.

We asked for the park to be developed properly, to no avail only to be told sorry no we can’t do that, at one of the meetings we were approached by the New Deal development staff and asked if we would start a working group to see how the park could be improved.

We all said yes we would like to help, On October 27th 2001 we held our first public consultation on Phoenix Park, questionnaires were sent out to local residents with the help of the City Council who at this time said “New Deal” that sounds good.

The City Council also assigned a community development worker to help us form a proper democratic constituted group to represent the local community this person helped us in lots of ways, we also had help from the Police Architectural Advice Officer who was very supportive of our group and our efforts, he became a non elected member of our group.

That was the basis of this venture that would change the image and bring phoenix park into been a very well used  part of Blakenhall and what would put us on the Wolverhampton map.

The Start

Despite the slow start to our project we tried to get funds from Doorsteps Green unfortunately to no avail this was In December 2001, In August 2002 things moved on at a very quick pace our first project was funded by the City Council after a lot of persuasion.

That was a Very Very Big Clean Up and inner shrub clearance from the woodland outskirts of the park perimeter this was only one third of the park it had an enormous impact, we moved all the rubbish, rats and drug users out of that part of the park , Look at the rest of this web site and watch the rest unfold.

 

Yes or No

Despite all this we are respected for what we have done in such a short time, and it would be unfair if I left it at this, the City Council Parks Dept give us a lot of support & help, they have to make ends meet like anyone else however please consider.

Do they have enough funds to do the job and please everyone, should central & local government do more ??? , how important do you rate parks and open green space.

Should community groups have to go through hell to scrape the money together to do what we have done and are doing, Should we have to go to the lengths we have gone through to provide a safe community park for children and for the community to use safely.

In 2002 when our group started some of the other areas of Wolverhampton had everything done for them, they had park rangers, park wardens to look after their parks that was the policy laid down then, they wanted for nothing and they complaind about little things, we all pay our Taxes.

Change

However things have changed, we are now in 2007 and Phoenix Park has a part time park ranger who is very active and organizes environmental community events, he has been very popular, the friends group has a very good relationship with Wolverhampton City Council Parks Department.

You can do it if you want too change your green open space