Wednesday, 8th February 2012

Parents pleased as play park project gets under way

Brooksbury Nature Play Park – that’s the name of the new playground for kids in Church Stretton, now being created after a three-year battle by parents.

In 2007, the Journal printed the front page story about a group of mums who were fed up with the outdated facilities at Church Stretton’s park.

They claimed their kids were bored with the park, and they were even worried that the play equipment was dangerous. Three years of work with Church Stretton Town Council, children at local primary schools, and grant giving organisations followed.

The result is that work has now started on transforming a section of Richard Robinson Field into a play park for children age 8-13 years.

The £80,000 contract has been awarded to Timberplay Ltd. Equipment. The play area will  include a zip wire, nest swing and hexagonal swings to name but a few  items.

Log stepping stones and boulders will create a  natural theme to the area. Planting will take place on the site  throughout the year in order to enhance the tree trunks and boulders  that will be placed throughout the space in order to create a secret garden effect for the site.

The play are will be installed by the end of March and be open and ready  for children to use.

It is hoped that future funding can be sought in  order to extend the play space and create a toddler area adjacent to the  new equipment.

Funding for the project has come from the Department for Children  Schools and Families (DCSF) Playbuilder fund and Shropshire Councils  capital fund in order to provide equipment for children aged between 8 and 13.