Worthing Borough Council

• Longcroft Park Playground
• Tarring Recreation Ground Playground completed

Big Lottery Funding of Playgrounds

Page Rating

1 2 3 4 5

01273 263058

parksandforeshore@worthing.gov.uk

In 2007 the Council applied for funding for playground improvements from the Big Lottery Fund. The Big Lottery had set aside around £164million to be spent specifically on children’s play which each Local Authority could apply for. As part of the application process, we had to produce a Play Strategy which formed part of the application.

Worthing was successful and was allocated £200,000 (The maximum it could apply for) to fund three play improvement schemes over two years. Year one would see two schemes:

1) A Multi Use Games Area at Tarring Recreation Ground - now completed
2) A Brand New Playground at Longcroft Park to replace the original worn out play area

Since we were told that we had been successful in our application in December 2007 we have been busy implementing the programme.

We agreed a brief outlining the requirements for the projects at Tarring Recreation Ground and Longcroft Park and with expertise from Technical Services Engineering colleagues we invited 10 companies with a proven track record in playgrounds to compose competitive quotations for the works.

We realised early in the process that if we were to achieve these exciting areas for our young people to enjoy, we would need to provide additional funding. We therefore secured an additional £30,000 to add to the existing £100,000 provided by the Big Lottery and set about choosing an exciting scheme for each of the two projects.

Eventually we worked the proposals down to a shortlist and invited the companies in to present their schemes. Following the presentations we asked the ward councillors to come in and review the schemes as they had been involved throughout the process. The successful companies were selected unanimously.

Tarring Recreation Ground

Tarring Recreation Ground would have a fenced 30 x 15 m hard surfaced ball court with provision for Basketball/Netball, Football and Cricket. The ball court would have a fence surrounding it which is 1m high along the sides and a maximum of 3m high at the ends to prevent footballs etc from being kicked out of the court. There will be self closing gates on each side to allow egress for collecting footballs and to allow children to enter and leave at ease. Seating provision is also included as perch type for participants in so called ‘sin bins’ or those spectating.

In addition to this it would have a teen shelter where young people could gather well away from the nearby play equipment. If this was not enough then in addition we would also place on the site several items of outdoor fitness equipment similar to that found in a Gym: Rowing Machine, Power Push Machine and a Health Walker.

Worthing Homes Ltd (a social housing landlord) also recognise the healthy benefits of installing this type of equipment has agreed to fund lighting for the fitness area and also two more items of fitness equipment.

The fitness equipment will also be promoted for older residents to use  as is the case in other Countries where this type of equipment is widespread.

Councillor Hazel Thorpe said about the Tarring Rec scheme:

"I am delighted with the scheme and I am sure that the local children and young people will be too. I hope that local residents will be able to support the project and communicate with us,  as and when they need to, so that residents and families can really enjoy the facilities! It is very pleasing to be involved in something  which encourages all ages to play and exercise together."

Longcroft Park

The existing playground was originally constructed out of timber on a sloping site and has suffered periodic vandalism over the last 10 years or so. We decided to construct a brand new playground slightly further away from residential properties then the existing site for children up to 8 years of age. This equipment is typical of a playground but primarily made of steel for durability and is more resistance to damage.

The equipment will be set out along a path and will be fenced once completed to provide a safe haven for children to play whilst parents and carers can sit and meet up in adjacent seating. The equipment selected is specially chosen to stimulate and challenge children from toddler to around 8 years of age using climbing, balancing swinging and social play. Additional seating will be provided along with litterbins.

Should additional funding be made available the site could easily be expanded.

Play/Activity Day

As part of the Big Lottery funding, we are also committed to organising a Play/Activity day facilitated and run by the Leisure Development unit within the Community and Wellbeing Team. For further details of this planned activity contact Adele Grover on (01903) 221121

Timing

The commencement date for each site has not been finally agreed as the equipment for each project are still undergoing manufacture. Start dates will be published shortly. The intention is for each scheme to be started and completed by each company before the commencement of the school Summer Holidays.

The latest information we have is Tarring Recreation Ground is scheduled to start during the week commencing 16th June 2008 whilst Longcroft Park is scheduled to commence around 1st July 2008.

Big Lottery

Worthing Borough Council wishes to thank Big Lottery for providing the funds which have enabled the Council to provide the equipment that will make a huge difference to the leisure time of residents and visitors of both West Tarring and Longcroft areas of Worthing.

Future Projects

The Big Lottery will also fund the year two scheme which will provide an exciting new playground along the Greensward in West Worthing. Although the site for the equipment has not yet been finalised, nor has the equipment that will be installed we are working on a typical scheme and will be arranging for consultation with residents and potential users later this year. Current thinking is an adventure type playground which is sympathetic to the surrounding and will be surfaced using special surfacing which allows the grass to grow through thus reducing the visual impact of the scheme.

Of course the Big Lottery funding is not the end of the road for playgrounds in Worthing, as contained in the Play Strategy we are committed to carrying out improvements and renovations to our existing playgrounds using Council resources and funds available via new property builds via a funding process known as s106

The programme for 2008/09 will see a teen shelter installed at the Gallops, new equipment installed at Victoria Recreation Ground (Replacement Junior Swing Unit), Pennycress Avenue (Replacement Roundabout) and new equipment and surfacing at Northbrook Recreation Ground to replace the worn out surfacing and Multi Play Unit.

Councillor Kevin Skepper (Cabinet Member for Improved Customer Services) said about the Big Lottery funding:

“I am very pleased to see such a high quality facility provided in Worthing. It is gratifying that we were able to take full advantage of the opportunity offered by the Big Lottery for Play”

Back to Navigation - Back to the top of this article