Ham and Long Park Play Parks to be Refurbished
Hot on the heels of the new Skatepark construction, Sidmouth Town Council has started working to improve the Ham and Long Park play parks in Sidmouth after securing S106 funding from various developments around the town. Working with the planning authority East Devon District Council, the Town Council have asked Schools and Pre-Schools what they would like to see at those play areas.
After such a difficult year, this is an exciting and hopeful project giving children and parents something to look forward. By adding in some of its own funding to that made available by EDDC, the Town Council has £55,000 to spend at Long Park and £100,000 to spend on the Ham which will enable replacement and refurbishment in both parks.
Councillors leading on this project on behalf of the council, Louise Cole and Denise Bickley commented “Childrens’ participation in the project is crucial to its success and young people’s involvement has already led to delivery of the new skatepark which is being built right now. Young people’s views will help to shape the designs to be unique to Sidmouth. This opportunity comes at a time when children and parents value outdoor play spaces more than ever in helping children to have fun benefiting both their physical and mental wellbeing.”
The Council is contacting Schools and Pre-Schools asking for their help with a simple process to pass on the childrens’ opinions by Friday 11 December. Both parks are designed for children up to the age of 14.
The ideas received back will be fed into the brief to be sent to companies that build play areas, who will produce various designs and those very designs will be shown to the children to vote for their favourites.