Press Release
Date: 20 August 2021
The £1.3m new play Splash Pad and Outdoor Adventure Play areas at King George’s Playing Fields will open for Easter 2022.
Plans to launch the new scheme this year have been changed due to a number of challenges including securing a continuous water supply.
Chair of Community and Health Committee, Cllr Cliff Poppy said; “It is disappointing that we are not in a position to open this wonderful scheme in time for summer but we obviously have to make sure that everything is correct before we can go ahead. We need a special water supply to ensure that the water can run continuously as the existing supply would only run for 3 hours before it would need to allow 6 hours for the tanks to refill. For the tanks to fill the Splash pad would have to close and clearly that is not a good proposition, so we have taken the decision to make sure the full continuous water flow is established first. Anyone who has visited King George’s can see the work that has been involved to get this incredible feature in place and the landscaping that needs to finish off the area can only be completed post the water supply being correctly installed. We will now have the time to ensure that everything is right and look forward to the official launch of this spectacular Splash pad and Adventure Play area in April.”
The borough’s play areas have been given a £2m uplift over the past few years as part of the five year play strategy. This year has already seen the opening of the £500,000 Junior Play Area at King George’s Playing Field complementing the new Toddler Play area. This followed the completion of Warley Playing Fields with its outside gym, River Road and Courage Playing Fields. Work is also underway at the Hutton Recreation Park Play Area to bring a new range of equipment for all ages including double zip lines, a large rope swing, and a large rocking and rotating Mobius rider.
Cllr Poppy added; “We undertook consultation with all our schemes and Hutton’s play area will benefit from £320,000 to bring it up to date and ensure that the play offerings across Brentwood are now all of the same high standard. Working with HAGs and Short Breaks we have made sure a broad range of imaginative and inclusive play opportunities have been included so that all our children particularly those with physical or sensory challenges can enjoy the schemes. The new toddler and junior play area will be relocated to nearer the Hutton Community Centre which makes perfect sense, and we have ensured that the existing play area will remain open while the new one is being installed.”
Cllr Poppy continued; “I would like to thank all our residents for their patience as we get the new Splash Pad and Adventure Play area established. I know this ambitious scheme has attracted a lot of excitement in Brentwood and beyond. I use many of the play areas myself with my grandchildren so I get to hear directly the feedback and thoughts of other parents and their children and I know that these schemes have made a huge difference to people particularly after last year’s restrictions. We just need a little patience over the winter to get the work done and the “jewel in the crown” of our play areas will be ready for us all to use in time for Easter.”
ENDS
As part of the Council’s 5 year strategic play investment programme the new Junior play area is the latest addition to the scheme which includes:
** King George’s Playing Fields has a new £150,000 toddler area and £265,000 Junior area
** River Road Play Park has had a £150,000 upgrade
** Warley Playing Fields has a new £290,000 play equipment area that includes a range of new and challenging play equipment, landscaping and an outdoor gym
** Courage Playing Fields underwent a £90,000 makeover with a new tower unit and climbing frame and sensory equipment installed.
** Hutton Recreation will get a total of £320,000 spent on refurbishment
** North Road will get a £175,000 renovation – Consultation will take place this summer and works should commence this winter 2021/ 2022 (Dec – Feb)
** Crescent Road play area a £250,000 new scheme will be developed for 2022/2023 financial year
** Ingrave Johnstone £100,000 new scheme will be developed for 2022/2023 and £175,000 at Bishops Hall new scheme will be developed for 2023/2024