Funding secured for new city playground

A new playground and sports facility is to be built at a park in Sheffield after community funding was secured.
The project in Longley Park will replace the old playground and sports provision next to the Crowder Road car park.
A £100,000 grant from FCC Communities Foundation and £75,000 from Veolia Environmental Trust will pay for the facilities, alongside additional funding from the Community Infrastructure Levy.
The money will be used to create a playground aimed at teenagers, along with a combined basketball and netball court.
The facility will also include a large trampoline, hammock, swing bars as well as other outdoor gym equipment.
Funding aimed at improving public health is also being used to fund the project as part of ambitions to address health inequalities in targeted areas of the city.
Councillor Kurtis Crossland, chair of the communities, parks and leisure committee at Sheffield City Council, said: "These new facilities will provide a real boost to the people of Longley.
"We are committed to ensuring we have spaces and facilities that are safe, inclusive and encourage more people to get outside more often."
The playground is planned to open to the public in early 2026.
Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North