PROGRESS on improvements to York's parks with works worth up to £925,000 have been welcomed amid questions over what will happen next.
City of York Council's executive heard 19 Parks Investment Fund projects were set to be finished on time and paused one while five earmarked for further investigation were shelved.
Cllr Jenny Kent, the council's Labour environment spokesperson, said the scheme had completely transformed the situation in some parks which were previously in a disheartening state.
But Cllr Nigel Ayre, leader of the Liberal Democrat opposition, said while the funding was welcome there were questions over whether the spending was a one-off.
The comments came as the executive heard an update on Tuesday, October 6 on the progress on works to improve parks included as part of the project.
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Six of the 19 projects approved last October have been finished with others in their early phases, out to tender or awaiting completion.
All but one are due to be finished by February.
The executive approved changes to spending on some of the projects.
Councillors also agreed to pause the rebuilding of steps and installing a handrail at the Tenant Road entrance of the Batchelor Hill wildflower meadow in Westfield.
Five further schemes at Clarence Gardens, Hull Road Park, Acomb Green, Monkbridge Gardens and Arran Place (King George V Playing Fields) were shelved until more funding becomes available.
The Parks Investment Fund is made up of £750,000 in council cash and it is hoped the amount can be increased to up to £925,000 through financial contributions from developers.
Hull Road Park is among those where improvements have been made (Image: Google Street View)
Cllr Kent said the situation at parks including the Crombie Avenue play area in Clifton had been completely changed.
She said: “The progress is fantastic, we've put in a once-in-a-generation pot of money and these parks are now full of children and life.
“I was stood in the Crombie Avenue park three years ago and it was really disheartening, it's right next to a primary school and those children deserve better.
“We've invested in the most deprived areas of the city and places that were previously invested in the longest ago which had the greatest need.”
Cllr Ayre said the spending built on investment made when his group ran the council in coalition with the Green Party.
The opposition leader said: “Investment in Hull Road Park is particularly welcome, residents have been raising concerns about the condition of the park for many years and Liberal Democrat campaigners have consistently pushed for improvements.
“There remains significant work to do across the city.
“Residents will now want to know if this represents a longer term commitment or if it's simply a one-off pot of money with no clear plan to deal with long-term issues.”