Why the need for a manifesto?There is huge national demand for better qualityparks and public spaces. Surveys repeatedy showhow much the public values them, while researchreveals how closely the quality of public spaces linksto levels of health, crime and the quality of life inevery neighbourhood.

We now need to create a national consensus thatparks and public spaces are a genuine political andfinancial priority. Every organisation or individual thatsigns up to support this Manifesto will be helping tomake the case at both a local and national level. Weall benefit from great public space. And this is achance to demonstrate our commitment.

What is CABE Space?CABE Space is part of the Commission forArchitecture and the Built Environment and was setup in May 2003. It champions excellence in thedesign and management of parks, streets, squaresand other open spaces in our towns and cities.CABE Space receives funding from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and support from theDepartment of Culture, Media and Sport.

How can you get involved?Sign up to this manifesto by logging on to:www.itsyourspace.org.ukAnd encourage your friends, family and neighbours to do the same.

We will ensure that creating, and caring for well-designedparks, streets and other publicspaces is a national and localpolitical priority.High quality parks and public spaces are an essential feature of successful neighbourhoodswhere people want to live, work, play and invest.They are vital to people’s health and the local economy. We want the government to promote theimportance of high quality public spaces, and forlocal and national leaders to commit to improvingparks and public spaces.

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We will encourage people of allages – including children, youngpeople and retired people – toplay an active role in decidingwhat our parks and publicspaces should be like and howthey should be looked after. Public spaces are the ‘glue’ that holds societytogether, the places where we meet different people,share experiences, and learn to trust one another. We must transform our parks, streets and squares into attractive, vibrant places that help to create sustainable communities.

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We will ensure that everyoneunderstands the importance of good design to the vitality of our cities, towns and suburbsand that designers, planners and managers all have the rightskills to create high quality public spaces.Many of our best-loved historic parks and publicspaces were created by the leading designers of the day and they are still rich in culture and beauty.Today, when we create new spaces, we must againemploy skilled designers to create places that peopleenjoy and respect, and once again become a sourceof inspiration for other countries.

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We will work to ensure that the care of parks and publicspaces is acknowledged to bean essential community service. Parks and public spaces deteriorate rapidly unless they are well maintained. They urgently need increased, more stable and better coordinated funding from both the public and private sectors. We also need to encourage innovation and high standards through initiatives such as the Green Flag Award Scheme.

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We will work to increase publicdebate about the issue of risk in outside spaces, and willencourage people to make decisions that give more weightto the benefits of interestingspaces, rather than to the perceived risks. The increasing fear of litigation is leading to thecreation of bland, featureless public spaces. Manyplaygrounds are now so dull that children reject themin favour of more exciting and potentially dangerousplaces. Councils are becoming reluctant to give permission for street parties, and trees are felled to avoid the risk of falling branches. As a society wemust accept that the benefits that vibrant, interestingplaces bring to our communities and local economies far outweigh the potential risks to individuals.

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We will work to ensure thatnational and local health policyrecognises the role of high qualityparks and public space in helpingpeople to become physicallyactive, to recover from illness,and to increase their generalhealth and well-being. Good networks of streets and parks encourage people of all ages to be physically active. Walking,cycling and sports become part of everyday routines if people have easy access to attractiveparks and natural green space, and if local streets give pedestrians a higher priority than vehicles.

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We will work to ensure that good paths and seating, playopportunities, signs in local languages, cultural events andart are understood to be essentialelements of great places – notoptional extras that can be cutfrom the budget. Public spaces belong to everyone – the young andthe old, the less able-bodied, and people from allcultural communities. There is evidence, however, that some groups, especially older people, use parksand public spaces less than others. We believe that spaces should be designed to be comfortable,interesting and accessible for all.

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We will encourage people whoare designing and managingparks and public spaces to protect and enhance biodiversityand to promote its enjoyment to local people.The parks, streets, squares and natural green spacesin our towns and cities have an important role to play in supporting biodiversity – the mix of wild plants andanimals with which we share our world. Sympatheticdesign and landscape management can greatlyincrease biodiversity and our everyday contact withthe natural world.

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We will seek to ensure that public spaces feel safe to use by encouraging councils to adopta positive approach to crime prevention through investment in good design and managementof the whole network of urbangreen spaces. Many parks and streets are so derelict and run down that people feel scared to use them. In contrast, places that are well-designed and cared for feel safer and people tend to use them more.This, in turn, helps to create busy, thriving places.

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We will encourage people fromall sectors of the community togive time to improving their local environment. If we work togetherwe can transform our publicspaces and help to improve everyone’s quality of life.The most popular parks and public spaces oftenhave local communities, businesses and politiciansworking together to look after them and making thema source of local pride. If we all wait for someone elseto do something, then nothing will change and manyof our parks and public spaces will remain run-down and unattractive.

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Sign up to this manifesto by logging on to: www.itsyourspace.org.uk

The Tower Building 11 York Road London SE1 7NX T 020 7960 2400 F 020 7960 2444 W www.cabespace.org.uk