21/07/2011

Issued by The City of York Council

York has some of the best parks and open spaces in the country - and that's official!

Today, Glen Gardens and Clarence Gardens will receive the Green Flag Award, a sign to visitors that the spaces are well-maintained and well-managed, with excellent facilities.

It is the seventh year in a row Glen Gardens has received the honour, and Clarence Garden's second award.

Rowntree Park, West Bank Park and Rawcliffe Country Park already hold the prestigious Green Flag Awards.

Glen Gardens and Clarence Gardens are one of a record number of parks and green spaces receiving the Green Flag Award this year, ensuring that even more of us now have access to well-managed, high-quality green spaces.
In 2011, 1,288 parks and green spaces will fly either the Green Flag or Community Award, a sign that the value of green space is widely acknowledged as vital to our communities.

Councillor Sonja Crisp, Cabinet member for Leisure, Culture and Social Inclusion, City of York Council, said: "York residents are rightly proud of the city's many parks and green spaces. The latest Green Flag Awards are testament to the hard work and dedication of the council's Parks and Open Spaces team, and of volunteers and local community groups."

Phil Barton, Green Flag Plus Partnership chairman said: "I would like to congratulate this year's winners, who have worked hard throughout the year to keep their parks and green spaces at a high standard and ensure they are pleasant and enjoyable spaces for the whole community.

"The Green Flag Award Scheme, and its growth, is essential in driving up the standards of our parks and green spaces. Access to quality green space is something we all desire and the scheme plays a key role in providing it.

"In these challenging financial times it is heartening that the number of Green Flag
Awards continue to grow. As the value of green space and the role it plays in our communities strengthens, we must ensure these high standards remain."

All award-winning sites now have the chance to receive a further award from the Green Flag Plus Partnership, the People's Choice Award. This award is voted for by the public, so if you want to see your local park receive a national accolade as the people's choice, then visit the Green Flag Award website now to register your vote.
(ENDS)