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Ruskin Park: south London park between Brixton, Camberwell and Denmark Hill

editor said:
Some pics:

spring-ruskin-park-2016-07.jpg


spring-ruskin-park-2016-11.jpg


spring-ruskin-park-2016-02.jpg



In photos: the first signs of spring in Ruskin Park, south London
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Blimey when did you take those? That little cafe is never open that I can see...
 
Harbourite said:
the women who run it prefer sunnier weather, weekends and school holidays ... one or all of those criteria met between 11am & 5pm and you can get a decent coffee and homemade tiffin
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Don't we all [emoji3]

I've had a coffee (a good one) a couple of times in the past but recently the opening times seemed not so much 'ad-hoc' as 'non-existant', so I'd started to assume it had closed for good...
 
So ... future of the paddling pool in Ruskin Park - an update:

Despite local protest, Lambeth Council has decided to stop funding the paddling pool. However action is being taken to keep it open! This being led by a group of locals with the support of Friends of Ruskin Park and the Ruskin Park Cafe.

Lambeth Council has offered an opportunity for the local community to run it - however funds are needed. Running the pool for a season will cost £10k - the bare minimum needed (previous cost to run quoted by Lambeth was significant more!). Urban Village estate agency has donated £5k towards running costs for this year (Urban Village is run by a local mother of 2 kids who use the pool).

However, an additional £5k is needed. The target is for the pool to open on the second May bank holiday and keep it open until September, with locals pitching in to run and maintain it. The additional £5k is needed for: chemicals, environmental requirements (water checks), health & safety etc.

If you'd like to make a donation: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/save-ruskin-park-paddling-pool

Support the effort on Facebook via the "Ruskin Park Paddling Pool" group
 
Harbourite said:
So ... future of the paddling pool in Ruskin Park - an update:

Despite local protest, Lambeth Council has decided to stop funding the paddling pool. However action is being taken to keep it open! This being led by a group of locals with the support of Friends of Ruskin Park and the Ruskin Park Cafe.

Lambeth Council has offered an opportunity for the local community to run it - however funds are needed. Running the pool for a season will cost £10k - the bare minimum needed (previous cost to run quoted by Lambeth was significant more!). Urban Village estate agency has donated £5k towards running costs for this year (Urban Village is run by a local mother of 2 kids who use the pool).

However, an additional £5k is needed. The target is for the pool to open on the second May bank holiday and keep it open until September, with locals pitching in to run and maintain it. The additional £5k is needed for: chemicals, environmental requirements (water checks), health & safety etc.

If you'd like to make a donation: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/save-ruskin-park-paddling-pool

Support the effort on Facebook via the "Ruskin Park Paddling Pool" group
Click to expand...
Good luck but it makes me think there must be facilities elsewhere in Lambeth used by kids with less wealthy parents which are simply going to close.

Maybe it should be another thread but sometimes I wonder if people jumping in to take over stuff previously run by Lambeth just shows them that they can get away with cutting off the funding without things disappearing and makes them less likely to make an effort to avoid such a situation, as well as disguising the reality of the cuts that are being forced on LAs. I don't especially have a solution, just a thought.
 
teuchter said:
Good luck but it makes me think there must be facilities elsewhere in Lambeth used by kids with less wealthy parents which are simply going to close.

Maybe it should be another thread but sometimes I wonder if people jumping in to take over stuff previously run by Lambeth just shows them that they can get away with cutting off the funding without things disappearing and makes them less likely to make an effort to avoid such a situation, as well as disguising the reality of the cuts that are being forced on LAs. I don't especially have a solution, just a thought.
Click to expand...

I see your points - one small instance of letting Lambeth off the hook and for covering the reality of the cuts as you say. In this instance, the alternative is to watch it close and go to ruin. A lot of people around the park don't want this to happen so trying to do something about it.

There are plenty of kids with less wealthy parents around Ruskin Park who'll be able to use the pool this summer if the funding is raised through those who can afford to help - doesn't matter where they come from or anything - open to all. It doesn't solve the Lambeth-wide issue you mention - but it's at least one thing that can be kept going.
 
yes definitely, article made a big difference, thank you Ed :thumbs: and all those who've donated ... nearly there

anything over and above the target will go towards next year and hopefully a longer term solution (getting ahead of myself ...)

to be fair to Lambeth, they are picking up the cost of the water (which is a lot - both volume and cost) ... but so they should ;)

so we just need some sunshine ...
 
Anybody heard if Ruskin Park is one of those scheduled to be left open at night to save staffing costs?
I expect if they did this there might be a vandalism risk, but it would make it very easy to cut across from Loughborough Junction to the Fox and the Hill and back - about half the time/distance of going round the long way.
 
As someone involved in the Friends of Ruskin Park, I'm also very grateful to everyone who has donated so far. I'm not a parent but I really value the paddling pool and the cafe as they create a centre of activity and community in the park in the summer months. I think many of us share teuchter's concern, but it is probably a case of finding the right balance at the moment between taking things on ourselves (which hopefully can be about improvements too, not just saving things) and providing a strong voice for park users to Lambeth. I think the park needs both.
 
Harbourite said:
So ... future of the paddling pool in Ruskin Park - an update:

Despite local protest, Lambeth Council has decided to stop funding the paddling pool. However action is being taken to keep it open! This being led by a group of locals with the support of Friends of Ruskin Park and the Ruskin Park Cafe.

Lambeth Council has offered an opportunity for the local community to run it - however funds are needed. Running the pool for a season will cost £10k - the bare minimum needed (previous cost to run quoted by Lambeth was significant more!). Urban Village estate agency has donated £5k towards running costs for this year (Urban Village is run by a local mother of 2 kids who use the pool).

However, an additional £5k is needed. The target is for the pool to open on the second May bank holiday and keep it open until September, with locals pitching in to run and maintain it. The additional £5k is needed for: chemicals, environmental requirements (water checks), health & safety etc.

If you'd like to make a donation: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/save-ruskin-park-paddling-pool

Support the effort on Facebook via the "Ruskin Park Paddling Pool" group
Click to expand...

Streatham Common Paddling Pool also trying to figure out how to stay open. Fingers crossed it will remain open.
 
Ruskin Park paddling pool jet washed on Saturday and painted on Sunday - massive thanks to all the volunteers who helped out. They are easily recognisable by the light blue paint on hands, feet, faces etc.

Pool should be open by May bank holiday - pending some administrative dotting and crossing. Hurray!
 
Harbourite said:
Ruskin Park paddling pool jet washed on Saturday and painted on Sunday - massive thanks to all the volunteers who helped out. They are easily recognisable by the light blue paint on hands, feet, faces etc.

Pool should be open by May bank holiday - pending some administrative dotting and crossing. Hurray!
Click to expand...

I cycled past you guys the other day and saw you doing your work! Great job!
 
nice day at ruskin paddling pool for the "gala" opening of the paddling pool
great turn out of families and decent weather
will post some pics
 
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