The council has announced a significant investment in children’s play areas and parks including Westbourne Gardens, Jubilee Park North, Fairhill by Sainsbury’s, Hartwell Drive, Balliol Road, Francis Grove Close and Bedford Park East.
The £500,000 improvement works are set to be carried out this Spring, with the bulk of work carried out during term time to minimise disruption.
The works being carried out at each site will vary, but include new play equipment, new fencing and measures to make the play areas more accessible with pathways for all users, including for wheelchairs and prams.
The new play equipment will be exciting, colourful and stimulating for children to use, and will include multiple play experiences and challenges, and bring a more developed sensory experience to local play areas.
The first playground to receive the upgrade is Westbourne Gardens Play Area where work will begin today (Tuesday).
Bedford Park East, as one of the Borough’s main parks, will see a flagship play area installed to capture children’s imaginations, replacing the old equipment and surface.
The focus is on inclusivity to open up the play experience to more children. These works will start in late June, and the play area is expected to be open by the end of July in time for the summer holidays.
Mayor Dave Hodgson said: “I am really pleased that this work will be beginning after Easter, delivering some major improvements to our local play parks over the next few months.
“Exciting, stimulating and challenging play is such a key part in a child’s development and I am delighted we are able to make this investment.
“Our team is working to minimise disruption, carrying out the majority of these works during the school term and I’d like to thank children, parents, carers and other park users for their patience as we deliver these improvements.”
