Harrow Council has promised to continue its work with community groups to help improve the borough’s parks.

According to a new report, which will be put before the council’s cabinet, officers want to build on the successful relationship that has developed over the past few years.

It notes that the council has been impressed with the work of the 24 park user groups in Harrow and it hopes to see this number grow in the future.

This, it explains, will potentially lead to new and better sporting facilities and hopefully can generate extra revenue through grants and building improvements.

Swan Kazi, of Harrow Parks Forum, believes it is vital that local authorities take an interest in improving their parks and open spaces.

He said: “There are health and wellbeing benefits, and our groups bring people into the parks.

“This makes them more enjoyable, keeps them clean and allows us to put on events for the whole community.”

He added that, according to Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, for every £1 spent on parks, Londoners receive £27 worth of benefits.

The concept of community involvement featured heavily in the officer’s report, and it noted that there are efforts in place to get more and more people in Harrow out and using parks.

It also wants to, where possible, hand over more responsibility to the user groups, as was displayed through their involvement in the Harrow Half Marathon last year.

Mr Kazi believes these can only be positive and productive methods going forward and added that his group has plenty in store to enhance community involvement.