University of Sheffield closes campus park at night over anti-social behaviour
The closure will be reviewed in the autumn
The University of Sheffield has closed a campus park at night due to anti-social behaviour.
The pocket park on Gell Street, Broomhall, is to be closed for three months as a pilot project.
University bosses will review the closure in the autumn.
Explaining the decision, the university said: “The university is proud of all its pocket parks, including the one on Gell Street.
“The park has recently experienced persistent anti-social behaviour. To maintain a safe environment for our students and staff, and on the advice of our campus and security team, we have decided to change access to the park.
“As a three-month pilot, which will be reviewed in the autumn, the gates will now be locked overnight, with the park open during daylight hours.
“We're sorry for any inconvenience this causes and will assess the outcome of the pilot before deciding on any longer-term approach.”
Last month signs appeared at the park saying that only students and staff were allowed.
They have since been removed, with the unversity saying the signs had been “incorrect”.
“The previous signage was incorrect and has now been removed. The park was designed as a welcoming green space for our university community and the local public and we apologise for any confusion the incorrect signage caused,” a university spokesperson said.
The park was built using recycled and leftover materials from university construction projects.
It sits on a site opposite the Department of Music building, at the corner of Gell Street and Leavygreave Road.
The park opened in August 2023.