Slough Borough Council is continuing its work to improve facilities for children by revamping play areas with work underway at Faraday and Manor Park recreation grounds.
Work started at the Slough sites on January 20, thanks to £1.1million of funding from the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF).
Work is also underway at Spackman’s Way in Chalvey and play areas at Rochfords Gardens, Bloom Park and Granville Recreation Ground will start in the next two weeks.
The Slough council was invited to apply for funding to develop 20 of the town’s play areas last year and were successful in securing the money in the summer 2008.
In October, residents were consulted through the council publication, Citizen, to give feedback on sites they felt would benefit from the money. The council is currently asking for residents’ suggestions for the remaining 14 sites.
Groundwork Thames Valley has been commissioned to oversee the project. They consulted with local Slough residents to get ideas on what they wanted to see in the play areas and artists’ impressions of the new play areas were drawn up.
The new play areas focus on the theme of natural play, with play equipment for swinging and climbing, and mounds and boulders to scramble. The materials used will be treated timber to give the appearance of a natural landscape.
Steve Wicks, cultural operations manager for Slough Borough Council, said: “With work already underway on three play areas and another three soon to start, we’re showing residents we’re committed to improving facilities at the sites most in need.
“We want to provide better opportunities for children aged eight to 13 and offer state of the art facilities for them to enjoy.
Work gets underway at Manor Park recreation ground.“These six are just the beginning of our plan to revitalise play across the town. We’re looking for other play areas residents would like to benefit from a revamp – ideally one in each of Slough’s wards so children don’t have far to go to play.”
Cllr Satpal Parmar, commissioner for Slough environment and open spaces, said: “We’re committed to improving the facilities on offer for children and young people in the borough.
“This funding will incorporate the ideas of local residents and go a long way to improving play areas with state of the art facilities.
“If residents would like to nominate a play area for revamp, please get in touch.”
To nominate a play area for a revamp or for more information, call 01753 875572 or email sportandhealth@slough.gov.uk.
Work is due to be completed on the first six play areas by the end of March 2009 and they will be open to the public once the newly laid turf is ready.
Slough Borough Council.
