Boldre Parish Council crowd funding for new £70,000 play park

BOLDRE Parish Council has launched a fundraising drive for a £70,000 new play park in Pilley.

The old facility next to Boldre War Memorial Hall is being replaced after an extension was built to house the relocated community store.

Councillors said the equipment in the existing play park has “reached the end of its life” and it wants to replace it entirely.

They said the new play park will benefit around 320 children under the age of 15 and will also be used by pupils of nearby William Gilpin School.

Urging people to donate to the scheme, the council said that "outdoor play is vital” to children’s’ “health, development, and wellbeing”.

The project will cost £70,000 of which £50,000 will be for the purchase and installation of play equipment.

The rest will go on landscaping, fencing, professional fees, and a contingency fund.

The council said it already has £38,000 towards the project but needs to boost this by grants and donations.

It has now set up a webpage to raise an additional £25,000 from online donations.

The council said it wants to build a “creative and engaging play space for the community”.

Computer generated images of the new one show swings, slides, merry-go-rounds and climbing frames.

Most of the old equipment has already been removed in preparation for the new play park to be built.

It will be sited next to the recreation ground which has football pitches and a sports pavilion.

In a statement the council said: “Play parks are a vital learning environment for children: spinning, swinging, rocking, rolling motions – these sensations are fundamental to every child’s physical development, helping them build core strength, coordination, and balance.

“Recent years have demonstrated how crucial outdoor space and activity is for mental wellbeing.

"Having a new play area will provide a well-managed and safe environment for children to play, encouraging outdoor activities, socialisation, and development.

“It will provide a useful social hub for parents to meet and form part of a wider set of community infrastructure. The play area will include equipment for less able users, ensuring that it accessible to all.”

The council said it will take around two weeks to construct the new play park which should be completed by March 2023.

Anyone donating a £100 and over will be able to have a name of their choosing recorded on a plaque.

To donate visit www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/boldre-play-park