Many park users wrote their view on cards - see their views below and add your own
The Garden Museum ran cake decoration for children and gave out seed packets to people who gave their views.Views
1) Fill in the water feature. CCTV cameras in areas around the park are driving drug dealing and drug use into the park
2) More facilities for children - eg schools to be involved in allotment-type schemes. Skateboard park where water feature is. Take bushes out to make paths more open and safe. Trim back trees. Supervised paddling pool and sandpit?3) Fill in the water feature. Drug users are encouraged to use the park because of extensive CCTV coverage in the estates surrounding the park.
4) More facilities for children - eg schools to be involved in allotments-type schemes. Skateboard park where old water feature is. Take bushes out by path to make it more open and safe. Keep the trees but trim them back so children don't swing on them. Create a paddling pool/ sandpit (would need supervision?)
5) Phased approach a good idea. Water feature is fun - but need to coordinate to Vauxhall Gardens development plan. Best thing about the park is that it is quiet and peaceful - keeping this is essential. Why not have a story telling tree?
6) Kennington resident: likes the park as it is. Would like a new water feature and more allotments.
7) I think it is nice as it is. Would like a nice water fountain and more flowers in the walled garden, and a pond with fish.
8) Dog walker: likes the fact the park is very quiet and would like it to stay exactly as it is!
9) We could have a more exciting playground and maybe more stuff like fairs and gardening activities.
10) Vauxhall Gardens resident: Would like a new water feature - but with no depth of water so it s safe for children. Would like more colour in the park.
11) Would like CCTV and new and improved water feature.
12) Likes the nice mature trees, which are generally well-maintained. Allotments are a good idea and good for local schools. Pull down the water feature and replace with a skate park.
13) As a resident in the area I would like to see the children's playground with more things, big with a lot more space for the kids. If you can do something with the entrance because it is dark, with the trees. Something like a fountain for the kids to enjoy the summer or for Sundays to come with the family.
14) Nice park, as a dog walker I like parks, would appreciate a meadow area with wild flowers etc. Would also be nice to have the water feature is costs allow.
15) Restore the water feature! And keep the name as Burial Park or Water Park.
16) I like it as it is. I'd like to see the water feature improved so that it works all year round with the water only being turned off if there's a drought.
17) I would like to see the park opened up a bit more to avoid any dark/ enclosed areas, so to feel more confident and safe. Also a water feature would be nice. A separate area for dog walkers and children. Enclosed dog-proof play/ picnic and walking area. Basically the more open areas in the park the better - no hiding places for dealers etc. Improved lighting might be a deterrent?
18) Basically it's a nice open space. Think the large concrete/ brick water feature should go and something smaller put in its place. Along with a few flower beds.
19) Needs a clean and tidy play area. Needs more open space and bushes cutting back because the park is very weary.
20) I would like the water feature back in the park. Thank you.
21) I like the park. Would like the water feature back and a better playground.
22) We need to promote 'oases' like this in London, and make them accessible and attractive to all sectors in the community. The gardens could be a source of pleasure and education to children in particular who have little outside space of their own, teaching them about nature and how to create and preserve gardens.
23) It's a great park, I like the new name [the Friends' suggested name of 'Old Paradise Gardens]. I think it just needs a little bit of work to tidy it up and maybe do something with the water feature.
