Social workers to be deployed to Brussels’ public parks

The agency plans to hire 43 park stewards who will act as social workers in the parks. The parks themselves are not harbours of radicalism, but “more and more large families are moving in to tower blocks around the parks,” Serge Kempeneers of Leefmilieu Brussel told Bruzz. “Four or five children in a small apartment is not tenable. They have more need than ever of the city parks to play and exercise.” Creating safe spaces for them is “a way of maintaining peace,” he said.

The region decided shortly after the events of 22 March to make extra financing available for security, including in the green spaces. “This is an important reinforcement for us,” Kempeneers said.

“In practice, the new stewards will have the profile of social workers, with their roots in the neighbourhood and a strong and positive connection with the life of the area,” explained Céline Fremault, environment minister for the Brussels region.

The new staff will be detailed mainly to Elisabethpark in Koekelberg (pictured) and Liedekerkepark in Sint-Joost, as well as the new park planned for the Ninoofsepoort in Laken and the four municipal parks  recently taken over by the region: Bospark in Anderlecht and the Marie-Josépark, Albertpark and L28 park, all in Molenbeek.

Photo: DSParnasse/Wikimedia