A campaign has been launched to keep one of York’s most popular parks open for longer.
Museum Gardens, the ten acre park in the city centre, is an “idyllic haven with an array of plant species, wildlife, and historical features,” according to the Yorkshire Museum Trust which runs it.
But it is only open between 9am and 6pm, even in summer.
Now York Green Party has launched a campaign to extend the botanical gardens’ opening hours.
They say they have been contacted by residents who work during the day and so have limited opportunity to enjoy the space.
York Green Party activist Henry Stevens said: “York Museum Gardens are a beautiful and much appreciated resource, which the city is rightly proud of.
“They are used by visitors and by York residents including those who live and/or work in the city centre.
“Access to the gardens earlier in the morning and later in the day would make a huge difference to people like me.”
Costly to run
York Museums Trust is responsible for the gardens. The cost to the charity of running the park was highlighted during the pandemic.
It was closed with the first lockdown in March 2020, but then the trust struggled to reopen it because of the expense involved.
A York Green Party spokesperson said: “Whilst it is understood that there are financial aspects to consider, these gardens are too special and precious to hide behind gates for many hour which, especially in summer, are still light enough to enjoy the outdoors.”
The party has launched a petition calling on
City of York Council and York Museums Trust to find a way of extending the opening times of Museum Gardens to enable access to and through the Gardens from earlier in the morning until later in the evening, particularly in the summer months (if necessary working with other city partners).
They added that “the evidence is clear and accepted that access to nature and green spaces supports better health and well being including mental health”.
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