A £300,000 cash injection into Worcester’s play areas including a new basketball practice area at either Gheluvelt Park or Pitchcroft will be debated by councillors.
New fencing around the Splashpad, improvements to the play area at Cripplegate Park and the new practice area are among the improvements to be considered by the City Council’s Environment Committee on Tuesday (January 28).
The improvements, repairs and maintenance are included in a proposed three-year programme, with a budget of £109,000 each year.
If agreed, work in the next 12 months will see a fence around the Splashpad in Gheluvelt Park in order to stop bikes, skaters and dogs being able to get onto it when it is closed.
The proposed basketball practice area would replace one at Gheluvelt Park, which is due to be removed as part of work to create new tennis courts there.
Other proposed work includes a new access gate to the Cripplegate Park play area and repairs to its tarmac surface and the start of an on-going programme of repairs to the surface at 36 play areas across the city.
If approved, the old play area at Tunnel Hill – where equipment was removed some years ago – will be restored as an open space.
Coun Andy Stafford, vice chair of the Environment Committee, said: “Play areas are valued by families across Worcester and they’re an essential part of ensuring we have an active and healthy city. I will be encouraging the committee to support these proposals.”
Under the proposed three-year plan the work in 2021/22 would include a refurbishment of play equipment at Grasshopper Avenue in St Peter’s, a new swing and multi-play unit at Old Tolladine Road and a range of new small play units at Field Walk in Battenhall.
The proposals for 2022/23 include the refurbishment of play areas at Aldersley Close in St Peter’s, Bodium Close in Warndon Villages and in Gheluvelt Park. New outdoor gym equipment is also mooted for Brickfields Park in Rainbow Hill.
Improvements and repair work at play areas in Howard Road, Debdale Avenue, Bodium Close, Bishops Avenue and Cornmeadow Lane is scheduled to be completed by March.
