Refurbishment work will begin in July at the Woodpecker Play Area in Queen’s Park, Bournemouth.
The project includes repairs to the existing fort structure, new swings, and a new climbing frame. An accessible ramp leading to the play area will also be fixed, improving access to the nearby café and toilets.
Work is funded by a £73,000 grant from Veolia Environmental Trust, following a joint application by BCP Council and the Queen’s Park and Charminster Neighbourhood Forum. A public consultation last year found that nearly all respondents considered the play area an important local facility.
BCP Council has also invested £150,000 in the site as part of its Plan for Play. The programme was approved in December last year and is funded mainly through the Community Infrastructure Levy, which developers pay to support local infrastructure.
The play area will be closed from 7 July for around four to six weeks. Further consultation will take place over the summer to consider possible improvements for teenagers in the area.
In total, more than 120 play areas across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole are due to benefit from funding through the Plan for Play.