Young people, parents and District Councillors gathered to celebrate the opening of the new Burners Close Playground in Burgess Hill.
The new playground is the realisation of months of work by local people and the District Council to bring about a playground for children chosen by children. Designed and built by SMP playgrounds, this scheme was chosen by a combination of votes from the Burgess Hill Youth Council and local residents and is designed for children age 2 - 10 years.
Containing exciting choices of play for climbing, balancing, spinning, rocking, swinging and sliding equipment, the site gives younger people a fun and active experience. The playground, costing £56,000, was entirely funded from Section 106 money received from the adjacent Crest Nicholson housing development at Folders Keep. An access path runs between this and the complementary play area for older children in the Folders Keep development, which includes basketball and kick about area.
The playground is being unveiled as part of national Love Parks Week, which takes place from 25 July to 2 August. In the same week Mid Sussex District Council has opened the new East Court Woodland Playground in East Grinstead, and this follows the recent opening of Clair Meadow Playground in Haywards Heath.
"We are committed to providing excellent outdoor spaces for young residents to enjoy", said Councillor Pru Moore, Cabinet Member for Leisure and Sustainability. "This playground has a very safe and intimate feel about it. It is very special."
"Children are kept away from the danger of busy roads by following a path into the wooded glade where the playground is located. When you visit the playground it is almost as if you have entered a fantasy world, cut off from the hustle and bustle of modern life. It is quiet, safe and all the modern equipment has been chosen with the help of local children so everything comes together to create a truly magical place."
"The new playground is just down the road from our home and we can't stop going in with the kids on the way back from school," said local mum Nicola Freeman, who has three children aged 7, 5 and 2. "There's something for all three of my children, the playground is much bigger now and the new equipment is good quality. It's so much better than it was before."
ENDS
PR1274/RB/JB
26 July 2010
Downloads/Links
Contacts
Rupert Browning
Landscape Manager
Mid Sussex District Council
Oaklands Road
Haywards Heath
West Sussex
RH16 1SS
Tel: 01444 477374
Email: RupertB@midsussex.gov.uk
