I share residents’ disappointment at the damage caused to Finsbury Park during the recent Tough Mudder event, which we have since decided will not take place in the park again (Editorial, 23 April). But I cannot agree with the conclusion that our parks are not a place for the public to enjoy outdoor events.
In the case of Finsbury Park, events have helped us to plug budget gaps caused by austerity and funded a wide range of improvements, as well as bringing in much-needed income for local businesses. But the benefits go beyond financial gain. Take summer music festivals. Finsbury Park has a history of hosting concerts going back to the 1960s. We continue this tradition by hosting large-scale events on a couple of summer weekends, none of them taking up more than 30% of the park.
