Work is due to begin next week on the £234,000 redevelopment of four play areas in Beverley.
Play areas in Figham Springs Way, Burden Road, Samman Road and Browns Way will each be given a major overhaul and be fitted with brand new equipment.
The scheme will begin with the installation of a totally redesigned play area at Figham Springs Way, with equipment for both youngsters and junior-aged children, as well as an outside gym aimed at teenagers upwards.
The four Beverley sites are part of a £1.1m project to revamp play areas across the East Riding, with the majority of work being carried out at sites in need of redevelopment in Beverley, Driffield, Cottingham, Hessle and Swinefleet, near Goole.
The major investment has come jointly from East Riding of Yorkshire Council and from funds provided by developers, who are required to give money to benefit communities as part of new housing developments they build – which is called commuted sums.
Figham Springs Way has been awarded £125,000 – comprising £52,000 of funding from the council and £73,000 from commuted sums.
Burden Road play area will also receive £49,700 – made up of £10,000 in council funding and £39,700 from commuted sums.
Samman Road play area has been given £25,000 – £2,500 in council funding and £22,500 from commuted sums.
And finally, Browns Way play area will receive an investment of £35,000 – through council funding alone.
Work on the new Figham Springs Way play area is due to start on Monday 20 June and is expected to take four weeks to complete.
During that time the play area will be closed to enable the work to be completed.
When finished, improvements to the site will include a full refurbishment of the fenced toddler play area with a four-tower multi-play creation with slides and climbing frames, a Crazy Daisy seesaw, a Spica spinner, a 3D ladybird and three swings installed.
The junior area will include a three-tower multi-play creation with slides and climbing frame, a zipline, a four-way Saturn carousel, a basket swing and two swings.
An outdoor gym will also be created with the installation of fitness equipment including a vertical net and climbing wall, a triple balance beam, fitness hurdles and a workout station – plus the ability to connect to an app to record fitness.
The work on Figham Springs Way play area will be carried out by council contractor and play area specialist Kompan.
Work on the three remaining Beverley play areas will begin later this year.
Councillor Chris Matthews, the council’s portfolio holder for environment and climate change, said: “These four play areas were chosen for redevelopment due to their age and the amount of equipment they had.
“Their current equipment is outdated and offers very little play value, and they are badly in need of a refresh.”
Councillor Claire Holmes, the council’s portfolio holder for planning, infrastructure and housing, said: “We have involved local residents and users of the play areas in these redevelopments, and for the Figham Springs Way site they had requested more play equipment to cater for all age ranges.
“Once the new play areas are complete, the new equipment will create an exciting and challenging place for children and families to enjoy.”
