£500,000 investment in play areas begins

Bedford Borough Council is making a £500,000 investment in children's play areas in 2022, with improvement works set to be carried out this Spring.

The works being carried out at each site will vary, but includes new play equipment, new fencing and measures to make the play areas more accessible with pathways for all users, including for wheelchairs and prams.

The new play equipment will be exciting, colourful and stimulating for children to use, and will include multiple play experiences and challenges, and bring a more developed sensory experience to local play areas.

During these improvements, play areas will have to be closed to ensure the works can be carried out efficiently and safely. To minimise disruption the Council is beginning these works after Easter, and aim to complete the majority of the works during term time.

These works begin at the Westbourne Gardens Play Area today, and will including play areas at Jubilee Park North, Fairhill by Sainsbury's, Hartwell Drive, Balliol Road, Francis Grove Close and Bedford Park East.

Bedford Park East, as one of the Borough's main parks, will see a flagship play area installed to capture childrens imaginations, replacing the old equipment and surface, with a focus on inclusivity to open up the play experience to more children. These works will start in late June, and the play area is expected to be open by the end of July.

Mayor Dave Hodgson said "I am really pleased that this work will be beginning after Easter, delivering some major improvements to our local play parks over the next few months. Exciting, stimulating and challenging play is such a key part in a child's development and I am delighted we are able to make this investment. Our team is working to minimise disruption, carrying out the majority of these works during the school term and I'd like to thank children, parents, carers and other park users for their patience as we deliver these improvements."