Play areas improved across Swale

Children and families will be having more fun outside thanks to over £50,000 of improvement works at three local parks.

Swale Borough Council has installed new play equipment at Colonels Lane and Vincent Gardens play areas and has replaced ageing equipment in Iwade Recreation Ground.

Colonels Lane play area in Boughton under Blean now has seven new pieces of equipment which are designed for all ages and abilities.

The equipment, which cost £22,000, includes a seesaw, rocking racer, spinning bowl and a play panel, which have all been installed on new surfacing.

Vincent Gardens, Sheerness,has six new pieces of play equipment, including a new zone for younger kids with a play wall, spinner and rocking crazy hen.

There is also a new geometrically shaped climbing wall and climbing bars for older children, with the additions costing £20,000.

Iwade recreation ground has also seen improvements with the roundabout play equipment being replaced at a cost of £12,000.

These improvements follow the council’s recent refurbishments and improvements to the Beachfields and New Road play areas.

Cllr Richard Palmer, chair of the community committee, said:

“Having safe, inclusive and, most importantly, fun places for our kids to get active, socialise and learn is incredibly important to us as a council.

“With the covid-19 pandemic meaning many children didn’t get to socialise as much as previous generations, having these free places for kids to play helps greatly with their development.

“That is why we have consistently been investing money into our play facilities, with our officers performing regular inspections, as we take great pride in our play areas across the borough.

“Play equipment is expensive, but we know the value our children will get from well-designed, good quality facilities will outweigh any costs.

Cllr Elliott Jayes, vice chair of the community committee, said:

“We have been improving play areas across the borough, notably replacing the Beachfields play castle with brand-new pirate ship play equipment after it was tragically burnt down.

“Having well maintained and used play areas will also help tackle anti-social behaviour, but we all need to work together; please make sure your children are using and enjoying these play areas responsibly.

“We can’t wait to see children enjoying this new equipment, and as we head into warmer weather, we know this new equipment will be well used and help bring smiles to kids’ faces.”