Two play projects which have attracted £125k funding to the Babergh district are being celebrated over the coming weeks.
Next Monday (June 29th) sees the official opening of a revamped play area at Poplar Road, Great Cornard.
The former run-down play area has had a dramatic overhaul after securing £50k funding from Suffolk County Council (SCC). Babergh Officers felt Poplar Road was in an area of play deprivation and the old equipment was outdated and under-used.
Babergh’s Chaiman Cllr Jennie Jenkins will officially open the play area and meet some of the local children and residents who helped decide what should be provided there.
The cash was used to provide challenging play opportunities including den building, hiding and chasing in addition to innovative fixed-play equipment and an area with seating to encourage social interaction across the community.
And this week (22nd), work has also started on a new £75k play area at the back of Hawkins Road and Mountbatten Close, in Sudbury.
The new play area, which will take about six weeks to revamp before it is open again, will include equipment asked for by the local children when extensive community consultation took place around 18 months ago.
Local children will also be involved in the naming of the play area – which has been made possible with Big Lottery grant funding - with pupils from All Saints Middle School taking part in a competition to come up with the best name and helping with planting.
The winning entrant from the school will help with the play area’s official opening.
Kate Hazlewood, Babergh’s Playworker, said: “We are delighted to have secured both of these huge amounts of funding which will transform two play areas in Babergh.
“Both of these areas were in desperate need of a cash injection and they will be completely revamped for local children to enjoy.
“I was very fortunate as a child to grow up in an environment where we freely played outside, made dens and got grubby – I’m hoping we’re going to be able to bring more fun and play opportunities to the youngsters in Great Cornard and Sudbury with this money.”
And Cllr Rex Thake, Babergh’s Children and Young People Champion, added: “These projects are excellent news and the extra funding which the district has attracted will go a long way in helping to support the Council’s priorities of a safer and healthier Babergh.
"Babergh firmly believes all children and young people have a right to play and that play is essential for a child's development and well-being.” ENDS
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