Parks

Parks

Public parks began to be developed in the early 19th century as part of the response to urban overcrowding and disease. Initially dependent on philanthropy and public subscriptions, legislation enabled local authorities to use the rates to fund the creation of public parks.

The Police (Scotland) Act 1850 enabled burgh commissioners to provide grounds within the burgh or no more than 3 miles away to be used as a pleasure ground or place of public resort or recreation.[1] There were similar provisions in subsequent general police acts.[2] Alongside this, some burghs obtained local acts of parliament and the Glasgow Public Parks Act 1859 was and early significant example. Subsequently, the Public Parks (Scotland) Act 1878 gave powers generally to burghs to establish public parks with public funds.[3] Burgh powers to use lands and grounds for public recreation were consolidated in 1892.[4]

Parks in rural areas became possible in 1894 when parish councils were permitted to acquire land for public recreation purposes and could be granted up to 20 acres from an entailed estate for public recreation.[5] In 1929 district councils were enabled to make byelaws for recreation grounds and commons.[6]

The Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 transferred these powers to regional, district and island councils and the Local Government and Planning (Scotland) Act 1982 extended these provisions to allow councils to lease buildings in parks for use as a shop, stall or restaurant, and conduct or support sporting and recreational competitions.[7] These powers were transferred to unitary councils in 1996.[8] From 2007 onwards, some councils set up trusts, eligible for charitable status, to manage council-owned facilities which could include parks, and some local parks and recreation facilities have been placed into local community management.

Records of parks may be found along with records of cemeteries as it was standard practice for local authorities to manage parks and cemeteries in the same department. Local authority archives services will hold any surviving records and may also hold records of voluntary and community groups which look after parks. The National Library of Scotland holds records of a wide range of local clubs and societies. The National Records of Scotland hold records relating to local byelaws.

Compiler: Elspeth Reid (2021)

Related Knowledge Base entries

Leisure and recreation

Bibliography

Bell, James, and James Paton, Glasgow: Its Municipal Organization and Administration (J. MacLehose and Sons, 1896)

Ferguson, Keith, An introduction to local government in Scotland (The Planning Exchange, 1984)

Whyte, W. E., Local Government in Scotland (Hodge & Co, 1936)

References

[1] Police Scotland Act 1850 (13 & 14 Vict. c.33) s.320.

[2] General Police and Improvement (Scotland) Act 1862 (25 & 26 Vict. c.101) s.367; Burgh Police (Scotland) Act 1892 (55 & 56 Vict. c.55) s.303.

[3] Public Parks (Scotland) Act 1878 (41 & 42 Vict. c.8).

[4] Burgh Police (Scotland) Act 1892 (55 & 56 Vict. c.55).