Should Parkrun pay to use parks?

[DumLum]

A council could become the first in the world to ask parkrun to pay a fee for use of its park.
About 300 adults and children regularly take part in two free timed runs organised by parkrun UK in Little Stoke Park, near Bristol, each Saturday.
Parkrun's ethos in the 850 runs it organises in 12 countries is for the event to be free and open to everyone.
Stoke Gifford Parish Council will decide later whether to ask runners to pay for maintenance of the paths.
However parkrun UK organisers have warned the event, which has attracted 4,083 registered runners, would end if a charge was imposed.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-36014525

 

[TWOCHOICEStom]

And people wonder why obesity is a problem in the UK....

 

[Paul Reids Sock]

Christ, why have they made that decision?!

Surely the benefits of having 300 more people regularly doing exercise should out way that of the paths in a park?

 

[pb21]

If it's a public park then no, as through council tax it's already been paid for?

 

[wellquickwoody]

No, a step too far.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

In a word no.

 

[Carrot Cruncher]

Christ, why have they made that decision?!

Surely the benefits of having 300 more people regularly doing exercise should out way that of the paths in a park?

Well quite. Council's bemoan the budget cuts for social care, so you'd think that something that would have a positive effect on poor health-related conditions (obsesity and the like) that may rely on that type of community care would be encouraged.

Backwards bumpkins.

 

[CHAPPERS]

Absurd.

 

[drew]

Of course not. The parks aren't owned by the council anyway, they are owned by the community.

 

[nwgull]

No. Just force all the fat kids to take part and use the money saved in future NHS bills.

 

[horshamite]

No

 

[El Presidente]

What a crass, short sighted and idiotic decision.

 

[Curious Orange]

I think the correct response from Parkrun would be to pull the event if this goes ahead.

 

[Greg Bobkin]

Only if every other park user is made to contribute to the maintenance costs.

Good luck with getting hold of every dog walker, group of kids playing football, family having a picnic, sports team and personal trainer (and client) that sets foot inside there.