New play areas open as part of £1m park revamp

Dan Martin
BBC News, Leicester
Charnwood Borough Council A play area with climbing ropes and frames  Charnwood Borough Council
Separate play areas have been installed aimed at both older and younger children

New play areas have been opened as part of a major revamp of Sileby Memorial Park.

Charnwood Borough Council is currently carrying out a £1m project to improve the recreation ground, off Seagrave Road, which has seen two new play areas created.

The authority said the separate play areas were aimed at older and younger children.

Council cabinet member Jennifer Tillotson said the scheme aimed to "rejuvenate" the park which opened in the 1920s.

"We're thrilled with the new equipment we've been able to provide, and we hope it is enjoyed by our young people for many years to come," she said.

Charnwood Borough Council Schoolchildren and a group of adults cheer as a red ribbon is cut in a play areaCharnwood Borough Council
Children from the village primary schools were invited to open the play areas

Pupils from Redlands Community Primary School and Highgate Community Primary School were asked to help choose the types of equipment installed.

"The creation of high-quality play areas will offer lasting benefits for children and families, and it is particularly encouraging to see local pupils involved in shaping the facilities," Tillotson added.

The wider revamp of the park has included the creation of a new multi-use games area and a community garden.

New benches have been installed, footpaths refurbished, and work carried out to improve access at the park's entrance.

The council said the overall cost of the park refurbishment was about £1 million, with £500,000 coming from the government's UK Shared Prosperity Fund and the remainder from contributions from developers who have built homes nearby.

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