I share residents’ disappointment at the damage caused to Finsbury Park during the recent Tough Mudder event, which we have since decided will not take place in the park again (Editorial, 23 April). But I cannot agree with the conclusion that our parks are not a place for the public to enjoy outdoor events.
In the case of Finsbury Park, events have helped us to plug budget gaps caused by austerity and funded a wide range of improvements, as well as bringing in much-needed income for local businesses. But the benefits go beyond financial gain. Take summer music festivals. Finsbury Park has a history of hosting concerts going back to the 1960s. We continue this tradition by hosting large-scale events on a couple of summer weekends, none of them taking up more than 30% of the park.
Festivals are a rite of passage for many. Hosting these events in a well-connected city park makes them far more accessible and affordable. This is especially true for young people whose opportunities for recreation and socialising have been hit so badly by the pandemic. The environmental impact of these events is also far less intense than the countryside festivals that fill the summer. Almost all attendees to Finsbury Park events arrive by sustainable means, and we are considering plans to install permanent infrastructure to remove the need for carbon‑hungry generators.
Our parks were created for recreation, and outdoor events are a part of that – a view that was upheld in a 2016 high court judgment. We will continue to work with residents to ensure that we strike a balance, and that everyone is free to enjoy our parks.
Mike Hakata
Deputy leader, Haringey council
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