SHEFFIELD is to give a long-term commitment to enhancing its reputation as one of the greenest cities in the country.
Councillors are set to endorse a 20-year strategy to improve the city's parks, woodland, countryside, allotments, playgrounds and other open spaces.
They intend to work with voluntary groups – many parks have 'Friends' organisations – and are conf
ident that can make progress, despite looming cuts in public spending.
Coun Shaffaq Mohammed, council cabinet member for climate change and local environment, said: "Funding is always a challenge, and not just for the city council.
"Many of the groups we will be working with are externally funded, while we will strengthen our links with business and national funding bodies such as the Heritage Lottery Fund.
"Even if there are harder times ahead, we do not want to leave the issue of our green spaces on the back burner. Parks become even more important to people in such circumstances."
Early objectives will include improvements for some of the city's best-known parks, including Hillsborough, Rivelin and Millhouses.
"We want to take them back to their glory days – making them again what are known as 'destination parks' – places people will want to travel to for a day out," said Coun Mohammed.
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