Safe Place campaign runs family event with exercise classes

MEMBERS of the Make Watergate Park A Safe Place Campaign organised a fun family event with exercise classes in the popular park on Saturday

Among the groups that turned up were Thi Chi, kick boxing, Yoga with Saoirsa and the Men’s Shed who displayed some of their amazing hand-crafted woodwork.

“We had a fantastic time in the park Saturday morning. The sun was shining, the park was blooming and great conversation with these amazing people offering free classes to our community,” said organiser Barbara Sharlott.

The organisers say last weekend’s family event encourages the community and park users back into using this public area to the full capacity and make everyone feel safe.

The Make Watergate Park a Safe Place Campaign are planning to run these classes every Saturday in the park from August 13. The campaigners have been seeking improvements in a number of facilities and extra investment in long-term solutions in the park to improve community use of the area.

The campaigns are looking for proper lighting to be installed in the park, community-based park rangers to be employed in the park, more family-friendly facilities such as benches and exercise equipment. The campaign also calls on the council to invest in these exercise, yoga or running programmes to be held in Sean Walsh Park, similar to such programmes in other parks, to increase community use of the area.