Nearly four years after St Giles Youth Centre went up in flames, the City of Lincoln Council kicked off the rebuilding process by asking young members of the community to have their say on what they’d like to see included in the new play area.
Artists impressions of what the play park would look like have been revealed. Some include various types of swings and slides, with one option featuring a multi-use sports cage for football and basketball
St Giles, situated in Lincoln North, has been described as the wrong place for a good plan. Lincoln North accounted for 53.45% of the counties violent knife offences last year and therefore some parents are calling for the park to have 24 hour CCTV surveillance.
Local Police Officer Jemma Peacock said: “We have noticed a spike in violent crime in general, and have been trying to employ a number of strategies to combat these in the youth, working closely with the council and community.”
However, the majority feel this is a well needed project, with many expressing on social media that parents in St Giles are in desperate need of a place to take their children.
With violent crime rising across Lincolnshire at a 74% increase (compared to a 12% increase nationally), council members are keen to create safe spaces for the youth, with the leader of the City of Lincoln Council Ric Metcalfe saying: “As a ward councillor for the area, this is something I have been striving for.”
He went on to express his commitment to working with the community, saying: “We look forward to meeting with the community to discuss further.”
The former building set alight back in September of 2016, before being completely destroyed shortly after. Since, the city of Lincoln has been repeatedly criticized for having a lack of facilities for the youth.
Final plans for the play park will be submitted to the council’s planning department when the community and council come to final decisions on what it will include.