Community benefits of… …children’s play areas
Foreword
Communities boosted by play areas This booklet demonstrates, through a series of case studies and personal stories, just how inspirational and beneficial children’s play areas can be within communities. As the stories were being told and the information gathered, an increasingly interesting and colourful picture unfolded. Each account reveals how children’s play areas, often unexpectedly and uniquely, have the potential to improve the quality of people’s lives. Where the provision of children’s play areas has been successfully embraced by communities, a picture of change in the lives of the children and communities begins to emerge. Julie Reed, Friends of Ealand Park said, “Now children and families in the community meet and chat there. People go to the park with a picnic and they are there for hours which is great. It means children are outside playing and meeting other children and not indoors.” Carden Park
2
Antisocial behaviour is often a negative response to play provision. BMX rider, Mark Blaney, 16, of Parkside, Seaham said, “People have been asking for ages when we
would get a skate park. It’s good to see it here now and it’s something we will have ownership of.” Another example is Craigmillar Castle. Jim Galloway said, “The site has now been adopted by the local community, the youths have not vandalized the site and it is beginning to create a landmark site, recognized as a safe and exciting place for your people and families to gather and play.” Overall play taps into the rich seam of community resourcefulness and from a handful of case studies illustrating the community benefits of children’s play area, think how strongly the story could be told if sustained investment was available for communities throughout the country. As Clive Bramble of Adur District Council, the smallest in the country, said, “Every time we build a play area, we build a community.”
Introduction “Playgrounds often act as focal points for the community, providing a meeting area for children and parents alike. As the number of youth clubs and associations decreases, dismissed by a generation more concerned with the latest technology than social interaction, the importance of playgrounds must not be underestimated in bringing people together. They offer a place for children to play and forge new friendships, while ensuring they remain healthy and active.�
John Croasdale
Chairman of the Association of Play Industries (API)
3
Community rebuilds playground which builds up the community
From a litter-strewn, graffiti-covered run-down park with broken play equipment, community energy and focus secured £75,000 of funding and transformed it into a popular and fully used wonderful new park for a rural community with few facilities. When 11-year-old James Reed and two friends, Ashley Cook and Emily Stevenson, started a ‘clean up their local park’ project they would never have guessed that before they were 13 they would see a £75,000 communitybased playground refurbishment project completed. Their clean-up started as a community Lifestyle Project for the summer holidays organised by Humberside Police. Before long James and friends said they wanted to do more and have new and better play equipment as some of the old equipment was broken and only for younger children. That sparked James’s mum, Julie Reed,
4
and other local mums to form a not-forprofit charitable trust, ‘Friends of Ealand Park’. With their group set up they started looking for funding. Within a year they had about £11,500 - enough for Phase I, a new and safe toddler area with fencing and using some of the existing equipment. Phase II, for 6-12 year olds saw the new play equipment installed including the activity run, swings, slide, climbing tower, roundabout and seesaw. That £64,000 phase was completed in spring 2010 and in good time for the summer holidays less than two years after James’s first clean-up project started. The Ealand Park Friends’ plans for Phase III are to have a multi-use games court area (MUGA).
Community success Julie Reed said, “Now children and families in the community meet and chat
there. People go to the park with a picnic and they are there for hours which is great. It means the children are outside playing and meeting and not indoors.” So popular and successful is Ealand Park that it attracts children and families from the neighbouring village, Crowle. On a Friday it’s mad down there. It gets really busy with more than 50 people at one time. Before, you would hardly see anyone in there. It’s incredible. The villages of Ealand and Crowle are only about 2000 households and Ealand Park has prompted enquires from as far as Goole as others ask how it can be done. “Another great thing about it being used so much is that it has become selfpolicing so now we don’t get damage, or litter or graffiti. So that has been a wonderful outcome. The children and their families, the whole community appreciates it as ‘theirs’ – as they were so much part of its creation.”
Happi Talk- Happy Community Result Thanks initially to a group of mums, local people near Carden Park, in Hollingbury, Brighton now have new play equipment for toddlers and children with something for teenagers coming next. It was only two years ago, when they saw play equipment being removed from their local park which was in a sorry state, that they got together and formed the HAPPI Group – Hollingbury Active Parents for Park Improvements. With the help of their local community development worker (from a charity, the Trust for Developing Communities) the group contacted the council for a park and play equipment refurb. They found they were about twenty-eighth on the list and would have to wait for around seven years. At that, they decided to see what they could do for themselves in raising funds and getting things done. In just two years they had achieved a successful refurb, built a thriving community group and started on the next community project.
The HAPPI Group consulted people living locally; many were mums with little children in flats without gardens but right next to the park. The Group talked to children at schools. The children all did designs and showed what they wanted – to climb! And high! Going from strength to strength the HAPPI group, in spring 2008, started The Hollingbury ‘Hello’ Newsletter and website (www.hollingbury.info).
Since then the park and play equipment are in full use. According to Gina Crees, a local mum, a HAPPI group founder and now its secretary, “There are always lots of children playing there. Mums from the flats come to the community centre to sit and chat while watching their small children in the toddler area. With summer evenings people are out in the park in the fresh air and really enjoying being outside.”
Working with Brighton & Hove City Council the HAPPI Group was allocated £50,000 of Playbuilder funding and raised another £40,000 from environmental trust Veolia. The £90,000 paid for a toddler area near the community centre and a big rope climber and lots of other play equipment for children. Not stopping there, this active community group is already raising funds of £10,000 for a zip-wire and other equipment for teenagers with the help of the local paper, The Argus.
Local community development worker, Linda Saltwell, sees not only the benefits of play but speaks happily of the wider and positive impact on the local community. “We have moved from some 260 households which were disengaged with the park on their doorstep, to having a very active community-led group and 400 people at the opening day - the playground refurbishment project has really brought people together.”
At a launch party in the park in spring 2010, only two years after they started, 400 people came to the opening day event.
5
Local community scores goal with new ball court following community calls for play provision Calls from a local community triggered a fundraising focus to renovate a tired ball court that had been in place on James Street since the 1960s. Calderdale Council and the Elland & District Partnership (EDP) identified the need for the James Street renovation following complaints from residents about antisocial behaviour, litter and rubbish, and the poor condition of the existing play equipment that was known locally as ‘the doss’. In response, EDP has installed a new MUGA (Multi Use Games Area) sympathetic to the local environment and residents.
Community Consultation The consultation process involved members of the EDP arranging doorto-door visits, school surveys and open EDP meetings. Children and young people all stated that whilst they did not use the current run-down ballcourt they would use an upgraded facility. The EDP wanted the project to build
6
community spirit by involving local children and residents in all aspects of the redevelopment. They wanted to provide a place for families to meet, and for children and young people to have fun in the heart of their community.
sound insulation system was ideal for the area due to its close proximity to housing, and I’m sure our planning and environment office would fully support the project as it meets the current standards on sound.
What a result!
“We’ve received no complaints from the local community throughout the whole process highlighting just how much the community has embraced the project.”
Joe Braithwaite, Chairman of the EDP comments, “We’re delighted with the new ballcourt and the response from the local community. Just to see children and young people of all ages playing on it together shows how much the community needed this.” Mick Wilby, Playgrounds Manager from Calderdale Council comments, “EDP is one of the most vibrant community groups that I work with; it really is testament to them that the James Street project progressed and is proving to be so successful. “It was clear from early on in the tender process that the MUGA was perfect for James Street. Its unique
Fundraising With the support of Calderdale Council, the EDP which includes representatives from the police, local councillors and local residents, was successful in securing £50,000 from the Big Lottery Fund through the People’s Millions initiative. It was awarded to improve, promote and extend the opportunities for play and recreation for children and young people in the area, and now the residents of Calderdale are enjoying the benefits of an innovative new multi-use games area.
7
Big playground community successes in UK’s smallest district council “Every time we build a play area, we build a community,” said Clive Bramble at Adur & Worthing Council. After securing £96,000 of capital funding in 2007, Clive Bramble at Adur District Council turned to the local community for their help to provide the type of playground that kids, parents and carers desperately needed at a cost that the council could afford. The smallest district council in the country, Adur (pronounced ‘aider’) now has the gem of a play area at Lancing Manor, aptly named ‘Jewel In The Crown’. Clive Bramble explained in August 2010, “Before, there were only a dozen children a day there. Now it is 20-30 an hour and after school it is packed.
8
We are looking at adding some mobile catering because parents now make it a family day out with picnics – even from the far side of the district. It has regenerated the whole community with safe, clean, green fun and brought people together. Even groups like the Brownies use it, so much so that we are looking for more funding to develop it further.”
Community Win-Win against Antisocial Behaviour ”Any antisocial behaviour and graffiti have given way to a site that is now packed from morning to night so we are going to add even more picnic tables. Play areas can focus people and
communities on the positives and about doing things together and, from that, achieve so much. If you get a good play area with lots of children and families using it the antisocial behaviour, the vandalism, the graffiti all go down. Then people have purges on dog fouling and litter collection. If it is a good site people in the community phone up to say what to do to make it even better,” said Clive Bramble. Adur provides 20 play areas for its 60,000 population and budget constraints mean that only one play area can be renewed each year. Amazingly that means that a 20-year product lifetime is demanded from both the equipment and surfacing it chooses. A tall order by anyone’s standards.
Community Spirit Ramps Up in BMX Riders & Skateboarders Wednesday, 4th August, 2010 saw the official opening of the Seaham Town Park BMX/Skateboard Park. The Mayor of Seaham officially opened the facility and approximately one hundred youngsters were treated to demonstrations by professional skaters and BMX riders. They were then given an opportunity to try out the park for the first time and receive coaching from the professionals. Skaters and BMX riders jumped at the chance to be the first to try out the new £130,000 skate park. The young people of Seaham worked alongside council officials and the skate park designer, to create the ramps and other features. Working in partnership with Seaham Town Council, the designer
was also able to use the results of a public consultation to design a skate facility with many benefits. “Since it opened our new BMX/skate park has been extremely well received by the youngsters and the whole community. Every time I pass the park it is absolutely teeming with 12 to 16-years-old BMX riders and skateboarders. It is being very well utilised. Before, we had nothing,” said Mark Welsh, Town Clerk for Seaham Town Council. He explained that throughout the project children and teens were consulted and helped design what they wanted. From that, the community-spirited youngsters developed ‘ownership’ and said they would look after their new park and
take a hand in its continued success, keeping it clean and tidy. Partnership working by Seaham TC and Durham CC led to combined funding of £130,000 to achieve this wonderful facility with a second phase of play equipment partially dependant on Playbuilder funding. BMX rider Mark Blaney, 16, of Parkside, Seaham, was among those to help plan the set-up. He commented, “People have been asking for ages when we would get a skate park. It’s good to see it here now and it’s something we will have ownership of.”
9
‘Mums’ the word at Stanstead Abbotts Playground Group Threatening rumours of their 1960s-equipped playground being sold for housing caused a core group of local mums at Stanstead Abbotts to get together in 2002. They wanted to improve the area for their children and for the community. From 2006 they raised £74,000 in just four years for a new play area. It opened in April 2010 and is a huge success. “There are now loads of children of all ages playing on the playground including teenagers coming along as well. Before, it was little used. More dads are coming along (to the multi-use games and goal area), so are more parents, grandparents and carers. It has become a community meeting point that is absolutely thriving and buzzing. We did not have that before and we have an immense community pride in what we achieved,” said Corinna Hartwig, playground committee member of the group who added, “Before the playground project many of the mums
10
and families did not know each other and the two schools were very separate but now all have much stronger ties.” At first the core group said they would look after the existing playground and they repainted and revamped the old play equipment. Then when they started fundraising the core group made use of their skills and abilities, other than being parents, to become a wellorganised and professional group, so much so that the project managed the new site construction and equipment installation. The Stanstead Abbotts group raised enough for funding to buy equipment and received huge help from a contractor, MorganEst, which supplied manpower and machines at no charge. The group is also very grateful for all of the help it received.
The community opening event was in time for the Easter Holidays 2010. Since then the play area has become a destination park with visitors coming by bike along a river path from a neighbouring town to spend the day there. The lifetime of the play area is seen as well over 20 years with the thought that some of the mums will be taking their grandchildren to it. With a total installed value close to £100,000 it is amazing that this was all achieved with local donations, fundraising, matched funding and grants; no Playbuilder funding, but huge energy, enthusiasm and drive by the energised mums and the community in Stanstead Abbotts.
Community Transformation Thanks to Noah’s Ark Soft Play “Our indoor play area has contributed to an amazing transformation in the community. People meet and make friends. The success of what we have been doing is that where children come and play their parents and carers interact with each other. This also happens intergenerationally. Some older members become like surrogate grandparents to the younger families. There is a high number of young single mums in the area, who appreciate
having a friendly person to chat to them about any of the normal worries children bring,” said Rev. Mark Evans. He described himself as minister, youth worker and soft-play centre organiser at Belvedere & Erith Congregational Church. With their indoor play area and a local college they are helping some of the young mums, who dropped out of education, to gain an NVQ in child
care and regain their focus. Through their kitchen they encourage healthy eating. Mark Evans and the community have been able to raise funds totalling £150,000; this has developed progressively. Now they have some 60-80 children a day with their parents and carers enjoying the soft play, doing arts and crafts and enjoying healthy snacks. As the numbers grow so does community strength.
11
Community Welcomes Modern Play on Traditional Site in Historic Town Connaught Park is an important open space in Dover. Situated near Dover Castle it overlooks the town. Established in the 1880s, it features many mature trees, grassed terraces, formal flowerbeds, an aviary and a pond – and now children’s play, 2010-style. This park has been listed as ‘Highly Commended’ in LGN 2010 Street Design Award. Dover DC’s assistant leisure services manager Emma-Jane Allen said, “Community usage has increased massively; we see far more people visiting the play area. Before renovation the old, traditional play area attracted few local visitors. Now the site meets the expectations of the local community who had seen play areas
12
redeveloped elsewhere in the District and wanted the same for their local site at Connaught Park.” Joel Roszmann at Kent Children’s Fund Network said, “It is now used as a social hub where children and families come for hours at a time and interact and engage with each other. Through consultation with children at the nearby schools, we got them on board and engaged with the rebuilding. That has helped transform the way the community uses the space – and much for the better for children, parents and the whole community.” The play area is design to complement existing natural surroundings and
reflect local history. A large timber tree house with tube slide represents Dover Castle, whilst a surrounding palisade of vertical logs replicates its fortifications. In the 1930s Connaught Park was known for its teddy bear picnics - positive community fun 80 years ago. This is celebrated within the scheme by the inclusion of a sandpit shaped like a teddy bear’s head, with rubber toadstool seating as the eyes and nose, and tufts of grass for hair. Landscaping has created differing levels, mounds and embankments while self-bound gravel pathways link most features, to maximise access for people of all abilities.
Craigmillar Castle Park Play Area World’s largest single rope construction play area adopted by local community. The new play park has been very well received with many families with young children using the area. Many of these families have not been previously seen in the park. They include some families from minority groups that are not regular park users. As access to the play park is gained by walking through Craigmillar Castle Park, these visitors are now discovering an area of accessible green space that had previously been unknown to them. The new play park has also brought people from further afield to Craigmillar Castle Park, due to the publicity the play park received and the attractions of the rope play structure. In a recent survey of 235 young people in Craigmillar, 68 percent said they had used the Play Area. Of these 161 youngsters who had used it, almost all said it was “Good” or “Very Good”. The Castlebrae High School Ecocommittee helped in the launch of
the play area. One of the Committee members, Mark Turnbull (12 years old), had this to say, “The Eco Committee had something to do with setting up the Jubilee Play Park - something to be proud of. Jubilee Play Park is amazing, is really fun, and it is good to get adventurous! The views are brilliant and the design is nice.” Craigmillar Castle Park (a.k.a. Jubilee Park) cost £120,000, opened on the 14th Nov 2008 and is now the largest single rope construction in the world. Based
on previous experience the Edinburgh Council recognised that by placing a high value play item in this position, it would be more likely to be accepted by the local youth community. Councillor Robert Aldridge said, “I am delighted that Craigmillar Castle Park Play Area was shortlisted for the Horticulture Week Best Playscheme and has received this recognition. The play area which is surrounded by wonderful scenery offers a safe and enjoyable environment for children to play in and a great credit must go to the staff who work so hard to help maintain the park and the play area to such a high standard.” Jim Galloway at Edinburgh Council said, “The site has now been adopted by the local community, the youths have not vandalised the site and it is beginning to create a landmark site, recognised as a safe and exciting place for young people and families to gather and play.”
13
One example e-mail said: Dear Sandy Town Council, I felt that I must write to you to congratulate & compliment you on the recent upgrades to the Bedford Road Rec. We spent a lovely afternoon up there today (Sun 7th March) enjoying all the new facilities. We have 2 young children (6 & 4 years) & they loved using all the new equipment & we (the parents) enjoyed sitting at the tables watching them! Well done on the choice of the new equipment & we hope to spend a lot more of our time at the Rec. We are Sandy residents. Kind regards
Community Consultation is a Win-Win in Bedford Road, Sandy “Something for older children,” was the community consultation call for Bedford Road play area when Sandy Town Council asked, “What’s needed?” With the £45,000 from the Playbuilder programme and £30,000 of capital from developers to help build local infrastructure, there was a £75,000 budget available to meet the call to build a play area for older children as well as improving the younger children’s area. Now Sandy’s 9-13 year olds are making
14
full use of the new equipment installed earlier this year once the winter weather had cleared. Instead of dropping in for a few minutes, children and families now spend much more time in the park. Jonathan Whitehurst at Sandy Town Council, “We have had letters and e-mails from grateful families saying how much their children are enjoying the new play equipment and how much longer they all now stay there. At other times there are schools and playgroups there, so it is a great success.”
Polling day win for play area As voters thronged to the Wadhurst polling station in the pavilion at Sparrows Green recreation ground they saw a brand new play area. Many have returned with children who vote it a great success. The play area design and equipment are the outcome of extensive local council public consultation by Wadhurst PC among the local community, primary school and 1000-strong community college. “We found out what the users wanted which helped when applying for funding. We were fortunate to receive a grant of
£30,000 from Play Pathfinder and £28,000 from a local housing development project with the parish council covering the remaining cost. The result is that we have wonderful play equipment which pulls people in from the surrounding areas,” said Philippa Hewes, Wadhurst Council Clerk. “This is a well-used community site with tennis courts and club, football pitches with 200 junior footballers, a trim-fitness trail and a ball-kicking wall which has been really successful,” she said. “One interesting outcome of detailed consultation was the need to
cater for 11 to 13-year-olds and upwards, the ‘tweenagers’ or pre-teenagers; they have got to have somewhere - and amazingly they now see ‘the rec.’ as quite a cool place to go,” Philippa Hewes confirmed. She added, “Our community police officer is often there although mostly to meet and talk to the children and teenagers - as happily we are relatively free of problem youths.” An outcome helped, no doubt, by provision of community sports and recreation in a hub that draws people together and even more so with such an excellent new play area.
15
Play area a huge success - brilliant transformation - well-loved community area Keswick’s new £180,000 children’s play park could be a major tourist attraction and boost the local economy by enticing more visitors to the area and Allerdale BC’s ‘Allerdale Outlook’ trumpets the play area success of a Keswick parent.
monies have helped to create a flagship play area for the area of Cumbria. Creating inclusive play opportunities for children of all ages and abilities, it is fast becoming one of the most popular destination parks in the region.
The Fitz Park project captured the imagination of the local community, with many volunteers working alongside the town council to bring it to fruition. It also benefited from a whole host of funding, including £54,000 from the Allerdale share of the Playbuilder scheme.
Top Cumbrian region 2010 award: Social & Community Project of the Year
Tim Mosedale, the Keswick parent who came up with the original idea to drive forward the new play park, said, “It’s absolutely fantastic. There are things for the younger kids and for the babies so it provides lots of variety. The stuff is so imaginative it gives kids a different adventure than we used to have. There’s been a fantastic amount of support from families to businesses and a real exciting buzz about this.”
Rachel Graham, formerly of Keswick Area Partnership, said, “This award is a great way to raise the profile of Keswick as a
Allerdale Outlook added that the Fitz Park play area features a range of equipment for all ages, including toddlers, juniors and teenagers. Playbuilder
16
The News & Star reported on 21 June 2010: Top award for Cumbrian park and play area. Some extracts follow:
destination town with great facilities, and showcase the hard work of the community and all those involved in the project.” Debbie McGrath, one of the awards organisers, said, “The Make us Smile project stood out for the judges due to the excellent way in which the committee engaged with the local residents and visitors, and also the way in which the project addressed the lack of provision for teenagers by including a teen zone.” Judges also applauded the way that the play area was promoted as not only a recreational space for local residents, but also as an attraction for tourists, helping to promote the town.
Showcase Play Forest is a Tribute to People Power Five years ago people power was harnessed to transform derelict council allotments in a former West Yorkshire mining town into a showcase play scheme that’s attracting interest from all over the world. Five years later the play area and the community are going strong. Speaking to give an update in August 2010, Rheta Davison from the Cutsyke Community Group said that the play forest and play area are well used by the local and wider community. In summer a special needs school brings youngsters from Wakefield to play on the forest and have their picnic lunch. Rheta sees people picnicking and using the picnic benches especially in nice weather and coming from as far as Airedale. “Teenagers use it because it is something different and sit on top of the platforms and nobody bothers them,” she said. Her grandchildren of 11, 10 and 8 use it and love it. With 600 new houses being built in Cutsyke it will soon be even busier. Rheta confirmed that children need play areas. “They are essential. It is where they learn social skills and to conquer the climbing challenges of equipment like the Cutsyke forest,” she said. Back in 2005 the £220,000 Cutsyke Play Forest was the first community scheme to be completed as part of The Castleford Project, a major regeneration initiative between Channel 4, Wakefield Metropolitan District Council and supporting agencies. One of the keys to the success of the play forest was the involvement of the community, and in particular the Cutsyke Community
Group, throughout every stage of the public consultation, planning, design and installation process. Cutsyke Community Group has 20 active members, aged seven to 74. Group spokesperson Rheta Davison is among those who believe passionately about the play forest and the benefits it has brought, not just to her own community, but to other groups in the area as well.“Cutsyke is classed as an area of high deprivation. Prior to the play forest being built, kids here had never had a structured play environment beyond a slide and a couple of swings,” she said. “The impact the play forest has had on Cutsyke village and its population of over 1,000 has been ‘overwhelming’. To say the old allotments had fallen into a state of ill-repair is an understatement. They had become a dumping ground, a wasteland and an area which, to put it mildly, was an absolute eyesore. “Today, and in complete contrast, the area is a great source of pride for many people, for many different reasons. What’s really heartening is to see how the community has taken ownership of the forest and its people are working hard to maintain it at its very best.” Cutsyke Community Group also celebrated the news that it was awarded the prestigious Duke of York Community Initiative Award in recognition of its ‘outstanding work to support and develop its local community’. “It all makes all the hard work worthwhile,” concluded Rheta.
17
Community Win-Win-Win in three South Tyneside parks In Grange Park, Coulthard Park and Cornthwaite Park parents and families now take their children there more often and for longer periods, engaging in social activities and encouraging their children to be active and at the same time make new friends. These projects have really made a huge contribution to the communities in which they are situated. Each site had existing play facilities but was identified as ready for development and rejuvenation under the Playbuilder programme. All were complete at the
A Win-Win-Win for three South Tyneside communities
18
end of March 2010 for just ÂŁ175,000 for all three sites.
Community Consultation Initial consultation was undertaken by South Tyneside Council from September 2009. It involved local residents, community groups, local schools and other stakeholders. Consultation feedback showed the eagerness and excitement at the prospect of developing these new play areas with some great suggestions as to what people would like to see and do at the new sites. Based on accepted best practice, each site now has a range
of equipment ranging from multipurpose play towers, a variation of swings and slides, trim trail equipment, tunnels and hollows, mounding and landscaping, the use of natural materials, various types of play surfaces and much more. Although there were a number of problems at each site ranging from antisocial behaviour to difficulties with access and some extreme weather, they were overcome. That has resulted in these communities having high quality play facilities, which will be enjoyed by children and adults of all ages and abilities for many years to come.
Community play area seven years on, and better by the day Local Leamington Spa resident Jan Gilbert decided to see what she could do to refurbish the neglected play area her garden backed on to. The old play equipment, which Jan grew up with, had been removed and not replaced. The play area had become a dumping ground and worse with burnt-out stolen cars.
four borders with a variety of different coloured shrubs, bushes and trees and a sensory garden which Kingsway School children helped plant. With a wildflower area the maturing habitat now hosts frogs, toads, newts, hedgehogs, bees, butterflies and other most welcome wildlife.
Jan raised about £75,000 mainly from the Landfill Communities Fund, Biffaward with the help of Kath Bannister, then part of Warwick DC’s Old Town regeneration team. In March 2003 the splendid newly equipped play area opened with a big launch party. Over the next two years Jan raised a further £20,000. This was for benches and landscaping a Spring Area with daffodil bulbs, a Wildlife Area,
Today, seven years on, the Elizabeth Road play area in Leamington Spa is in full use by local children and families. “They come and have picnics, parties and birthdays,” said Jan who sees all ages: grandparents with grandchildren, kids on bikes, parents and carers. Some are very local, some visiting the nearby new Sikh Community Gurdwara (Temple), some are groups from nearby schools.
Jan had picnic benches added and a path to ensure easy access especially for a wheelchair user. Jan made sure local schools and children were involved from the very beginning. Many of the ideas and plans came from the local St Patrick’s School and planting help from Kingsway School children. Consultation with kids and their involvement was a key ingredient to early success. Jan Gilbert quotes children taking ‘ownership’ and saying “This is our park. We put it in. Don’t mess it up.” According to Jan, “People tend to look after the park and take ownership of the area. Job done! Just shows what you can do when you put your mind to it.”
19
Fantastic Community Response At Cholsey, near Wallingford in Oxfordshire, a team of mums worked incredibly hard for over three years from the formation of the Play, Adventure, and Recreation for Cholsey (PARC) committee through to new play area project completion. This included 18 months of community fundraising and consultation. Following this, planning permission applications were submitted in early 2009, followed by grant applications. They achieved the redevelopment of separate junior, toddler & older children’s play areas and a fantastic community response.
Funding A small but important amount of money came from local fundraising events (£2500) and got the project started; the remainder was provided by various grants applied for by the PARC committee gaining around £20,000 each from Cholsey Parish Council and Oxfordshire District Council. Additional partial funding was thanks to a £32,000 grant through the Landfill Communities Fund of Waste Recycling Group (WRG)
20
administered by the environmental body, WREN. The PARC project received a £50,000 grant from Community Spaces. In total the mums and everyone involved with PARC raised £125,000.
Consultation The PARC group consulted extensively. They visited a huge number of groups, including primary school classes, youth clubs, toddler groups, beavers, cubs and preschools and school assemblies to discuss their needs and preferences. More than 200 residents, adults and children completed a questionnaire, rating different pieces of equipment. They canvassed at local fundraising events and kept residents informed with village magazine articles.
Requirements Residents requested a separate area for the teenagers and for the area to blend in with the environment. The children also wanted to keep the existing swings in the junior area, as these are particularly effective ones! The teenagers wanted a zip-wire,
more swings including a basket swing and something high and exciting to climb. Younger children also wanted climbing apparatus but also monkey bars, roundabout, rockers and items to stimulate their imagination.
Fantastic Community Response The play area was opened in May 2010 and there has been a fantastic response from all sections of the community. The children are thrilled, particularly ones from the local primary school which backs onto the recreation ground. They race out of school straight to the new equipment! The new areas are a real asset to the village and are constantly in use. The most popular items are the 6-metre high net pyramid, the zip wire and the basket swing. Katy Sims who was one of the key project managers for this play area said, “The new areas look stunning. They now reflect our vibrant community and provide the village with something it can be proud of.”
Welsh Water Works Wonders for Welfare Park Community Group The Aber Valley community partnership worked determinedly to secure funding for their play project and were ultimately successful in raising over £94,000 towards the new interactive water play feature at Welfare Park, Senghenydd, in South Wales. The funding primarily came from a ‘People’s Millions’ National Lottery grant. The project replaces an existing redundant paddling pool facility and is designed to stimulate children of all abilities, including those with disabilities. During school hours local schools also book to use the area.
Natural Water Play The community group, the Aber Valley Communities First Partnership, used some of its funding to drill a borehole to supply pure mountain water to the water play area. That saved on recycling water treatment and once filtered the clean used water goes into the local river. Run by the community partnership the water play area is open from May to September and its popularity has had very positive impact on the local park. From the Partnership, Pat Bull said,
“Now the park is buzzing. Before you would only see a couple of children in there. Now there are lots and they are making good use of the MUGA – a multiuse games area.” For this community group, success breeds success. Before their success with their water play project they were having no success in raising funds for a skate park. With the area now defined as a redevelopment area they are well on the way to funding and building a long-awaited skate park.
Aber Valley community group secured funding to refurbish an old paddling pool into a very popular and successful water play area and are now inspired to do the same for a long-awaited skatepark.
21
Village play area, a rock for the community When two mums with young children at Langton Matravers pre-school in Dorset realised they may be able to get a grant and have a village play area, the idea took hold. A project was born. Mostly driven by one mum, Tracey Stone, with a core group and help from many others they set about fundraising. Tracey and the group were not asked; they saw an opportunity and they just did it, learning as they went. With a grant from the Purbeck Community Partnership, Awards for All, the local Co-op, village shops and campsites and a private £500 donation, the group raised £26,000. Their new play area was completed in spring 2007 and three years later it is a village community focal point. “It has become a real meeting place especially for the children to play for an hour or two after school, and grandparents also use it with grandchildren,” said Tracey Stone. “For many young mums apparently idyllic
rural village life can have quite isolated and lonely daytimes. So meeting other mums at the play area can be hugely important,” she said. “In this rural village there is almost nothing else for children of a play age and really nothing for teenagers. That has given rise to their request for, at least, a permanent goal post which we hope to pay for from the last of our funds,” said Tracey. The children in the village enjoy having somewhere to meet their friends. Because the equipment attracts several children and because they are there, they play inventively in whatever way they want. Before the new play equipment,
parish surveys revealed seventy-five percent of respondents cited the need for more play equipment. For Tracy Stone the growth of the role of the play area transcends play in many ways; as a community meeting point and with welcome ‘spin off’ developments. At the school, parish councillors learned from children what else they would like to do and to see and the children heard about how the council runs the play area. One of the children’s suggestions was a bench in memory of a popular departed teacher. It was installed in July 2010. Its two stone ends are from the local Purbeck stone quarry which the children visited to see being cut. “That gave the children a really nice link with their local community and their surroundings and its traditional and current industry with the finished product now in their play area,” said Tracey. Now it’s complete, Tracey Stone said they all feel a huge sense of pride and pleasure from many appreciative comments and had great fun doing it. That came especially from consulting children to see what they wanted and then generating such a lovely time and place for children, parents and families with a hugely enriched community.
22
Acknowledgements Our thanks go to members, their customers and the community campaigners who have contributed to this publication. Thanks also to Mike Heath, Media Marketing Services who conducted qualitative surveys in June and August 2010 with Local Authorities, and the grassroots community contacts who made things happen.
Contributing API Members eibe Play – Coulthard Park www.eibe.co.uk
Sutcliffe Play – James Street & Cutsyke www.sutcliffeplay.co.uk
Hand Made Places – Langton Matravers www.handmadeplaces.co.uk
Sun Safe Play Systems – Welfare Park www.sunsafe.co.uk
Kompan – Carden Park & Stanstead Abbotts www.kompan.com
The Soft Brick Company – Belvedere Noah’s Arc www.softbrick.co.uk
Matta Products (UK) – Lancing Manor, Adur www.matta.co.uk
Wicksteed – Connaught Park www.wicksteed.co.uk
Playdale Playgrounds – Ealand Park & Wadhurst www.playdale.co.uk Proludic – Fitz Park & Bedford Road, Sandy www.proludic.com Record RSS – Seaham BMX/Skate Park www.recordrss.co.uk Russell Play – Craigmillar, Scotland & Elizabeth Road Park www.russell-leisure.co.uk SMP (Playgrounds) – Cholsey www.smp.co.uk Victoria Park, community opening event
23
The Association of Play Industries (API) www.api-play.org is the lead trade body within the play sector, representing the interests of the manufacturers, installers, designers and distributors of both outdoor and indoor play equipment and safer surfacing. Founded in 1984 it represents approximately 85 per cent of the market with more than 80 members. The Association of Play Industries Federation House Stoneleigh Park Warwickshire CV8 2RF T +44(0) 24 76 414999 ext 208 F +44(0) 24 76 414990 W www.api-play.org E api@api-play.org
The API operates under the umbrella of the Federation of Sports and Play Associations (FSPA) www.sportsandplay.com the national body responsible for representing 17 Associations in the UK’s sport and play industries. Federation of Sports and Play Associations Federation House Stoneleigh Park Warwickshire CV8 2RF T +44(0) 24 76 414999 F +44(0) 24 76 414990 W www.sportsandplay.com E info@sportsandplay.com