Make Space York

25/05/2026

Great to see imagination in action at today’s workshop in Rowntree Park as part of the Make Space York project.

The Room Outside was a session for older girls where they creatively explored parks as worlds of their own - places full of stories, creatures, friendship, safety and belonging. Through storytelling and illustration, they imagined what it means to feel at home in green spaces and how parks can become more welcoming for everyone.

The session was led by writer/artist Sarah Williams and she’s running another creative session this Thursday 2.30-4.30 in Rowntree Park. Building on the same themes with a more art-focused workshop that will contribute towards a collaborative artwork planned for the park later this summer

Ages 10-18 and free
Https://www.rowntreepark.org.uk/events/booking

Part of a series of creative sessions that run through summer funded by the LNER Customer and Community Investment Fund.

03/05/2026

03/05/2026

The Make Space Festival of Free events programme is now live!
13-14 June - Rowntree Park
20-21 June - Homestead Park

40+ FREE events in York parks for older girls. Including:
-Arts & Crafts
-Sports & Movement
-Performing Arts & Photography
-Nature Connection
-Social Awareness
-…and so much more

The festival is designed to give girls the chance to try new things, meet new people, and feel confident and empowered in parks.
See programme and book places
https://letsmakespace.org/festival/

Follow the project on instagram

15/04/2026

Free session -Create & Connect
For girls aged 10–18

Join us in West Bank Park in Holgate, York, for a relaxed, welcoming session where you can hang out, get creative and share your ideas for the park.

You can get involved in:
✨ Tote bag decorating
✨ Badge making
✨ Nature-inspired jewellery
✨ Creative activities to share your thoughts and ideas

It’s a crafty hangout in the park with the opportunity to explore things like feeling safe, belonging, friendship, joy and how parks can better support older girls.

This session is FREE, but spaces are limited so booking in advance is essential.

(Please only book if you know you can attend.)

Clickable booking link in bio
HTTPS://www.rowntreepark.org.uk/events/booking

Make Space York is all about creating parks where teenage girls feel welcome. We know that as girls get older, they’re less likely to use parks, and we want to change that by creating spaces and opportunities that feel right for them.

15/04/2026

West Bank Park in York - calling girls 11-18, share your views!

The Make Space York project, which started in Rowntree Park, is now supporting the Friends of West Bank Park as they explore how their park can be more welcoming and inclusive for teenage girls.

If you have a daughter aged 10-18, please encourage her to share her views if she knows West Bank Park
Clickable link in bio
👉 https://forms.gle/eoze4WJjf6ZC9Tci9

Research shows that as girls enter their teenage years, their use of parks drops compared to boys. This means many are missing out on the physical and mental health benefits of spending time outdoors.

Since 2021, girls have helped shape change in Rowntree Park. Together, we’ve seen new equipment installed and created a free festival of events designed with older girls in mind, all made possible through funding and clear evidence of need.

It’s brilliant to see this work growing into other parks, and we’re really pleased to support the next steps in West Bank Park.

11/04/2026

Make Space York Festival 2026

FREE events and activities for older girls this June… and you can be the first to hear when bookings open

Think
⭐️Sports & exercise
⭐️ Arts & crafts
⭐️Nature connection & mindfulness
…and so much more

With 40+ free sessions across two weekends, there’s something for everyone.

Events are mainly for ages 10–18, with some open to 8+

Sign up to the mailing list to get early access to bookings when the programme launches at the start of May. Clickable link on profile page.

Come together for two empowering, welcoming weekends in York’s parks. Please share and shout it loud - let’s get as many York girls into parks having fun, trying new things and meeting new people!

19/03/2026

We are thrilled to share that The Friends of Rowntree Park and the Make Space York project have been awarded funding to help teenage girls be active, confident and welcome in our park. We do need to do some fund raising to unlock the full grant (see below).

For the past few years, the Make Space York project has been working with local girls to understand how parks could better support them. Girls use of parks drops in their teenage years and therefore looking at ways to address this is important.

This funding will help us build on the area older girls helped co-create in Rowntree Park, expanding the space with equipment girls asked for. Meaning the ‘Teen Play Zone’ has equipment to support unstructured climbing, balancing, swinging and generally being active and social with friends. This is a space where teens are to feel welcome to hang and play.

The funding will also support more sport and movement activities in the park, helping girls try new things in a welcoming and low-pressure environment.

The funding is from he Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, David Skaith, Movement and Sports Fund and it will make such a difference. The grant requires match funding, and we now need to raise £4,500 to unlock the full funding and make the improvements happen.

If you would like to support the project, have fund raising ideas or can help us reach our fundraising target, we would love to hear from you. Please get in touch with with project lead, Abigail, via [email protected]

Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, David Skaith
York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority
North Yorkshire Sport

19/01/2026

Thank you York Press for helping spread the word about the Make Space York project focused on creating welcoming parks for teenage girls.

Side note - many girls over the last 4 years have been involved in sharing views and ideas so when they state ‘group’ of teenage girls help design the park, they meant many girls help contribute ideas to an ‘area of the park’! All good though!

15/01/2026

Listening to teenage girls on their views and ideas for Rownteee Park is key to the Make Space project. We have been co-designed an area in the park with teenage girls with equipment they want and the progress continues to be shaped by them. The girls you see here have been part of that ongoing conversation. Their voices matter, and they are listened to.

We are really grateful to The Transpennine Route Upgrade community fund for some funding that allows us to continue developing the Make Space area in Rowntree Park in 2026.

Girls have told us they want places to be active in ways that are non-competitive. Spaces to sit, swing, climb, balance and chat. Somewhere that feels close enough to the rest of the park to feel connected, but set back enough to feel like it is theirs. Equipment designed for them, where they do not feel pushed out when younger children arrive. A space where they know they are allowed to be.

This project is about more than equipment. It is about valuing girls’ experiences, trusting their ideas, and showing that when girls speak up, change can follow.

Thank you for helping us keep this work going, and for supporting a park shaped by the people who use it.