Worthing Borough Council

Types of Play

Page Rating

1 2 3 4 5

01273 263058

parksandforeshore@adur-worthing.gov.uk

The playgrounds in Worthing have a wide range of play equipment from traditional swings and roundabouts to modern contemporary items, which entertain and stimulate children, and provide them with activities to help develop motor skills, balance and co-ordination as well as physical and social activity.

Traditional Play Equipment

The Council does not specify an age range on any individual item, as it believes that children should play on equipment according to their abilities. This may mean that a younger, but more adventurous child may experiment and take risks on equipment designed for slightly older children.

Equipment is designed for a specific age range however, and this is typified by access points being slightly higher or ‘reach’ out points being just out of reach of younger (and smaller) children. 

We typically provide equipment in all our playgrounds for toddlers up to 6 years of age and from 6 to 10/12 years.

This equipment is usually swings, comprising traditional flat and cradle seats, and the more modern group or buddy swing, which can accommodate anything from a single child to a group playing together.

Roundabouts raised off the ground are now being replaced with roundabouts which are flush to ground level to allow easy access for walking or being pushed onto in a buggy/pushchair or wheelchair. Traditional roundabouts are being complemented by small individual rotating items, such as spinner bowls or twizzle spinners, where you can hold onto a pole and stand on a small spinning platform.

Multi Play units can accommodate several children at once providing opportunities for social and co-operative play. Typical activities are sliding, climbing, crawling and balancing. The equipment varies from bright multi coloured units to more simple contemporary styles with little of the traditional infill barriers.  These are replaced with climbing challenges and use the inside and outside of the structures for 360o play.

Seesaws and rocking items, such as Sprung Mobiles, are used by younger children to experience rocking on a huge variety of themed units.  Seesaws are usually based on a central pivot or are sprung to allow for single use at only one end.

Multi Use Games Areas (MUGA)

Multi Use Games Areas or MUGA’s (Pronounced MooGa) are installed in Worthing at Tarring Rec and Bourne Close playgrounds.  Smaller single goal units are also installed at Dominion Road Open Space, Pond Lane and Hillbarn Rec. They usually consist of a fenced ballcourt which can accommodate a variety of sports and have court markings to reflect this.  Common sports include: 5 a side football, basketball, netball, tennis, cricket etc. In reality however, skateboarders and in line skaters also use these as well.

The Tarring Rec installation has been built using funds provided by BIG Lottery. The Council’s Leisure Development section may well also promote this area in the future for other sports which require a hard surface.

Individual Basketball Units are also installed at: The Gallops, Homefield Park, Palatine Park, Pond Lane Rec (along with a sports wall), Lyons Farm Open Space, West Park Leisure centre and Dominion Road Open Space.

Wheeled Play (Skateboard, BMX & In-liners)

Homefield Park has a very popular large skateboard/BMX installation which is fenced and locked at night and regularly features on You Tube videos. The Council installed a half pipe, quarter pipe (with variety of transitions) and a combination grind box, again with a variety of transitions.

There is also an outdoor BMX track in the wooded area between Hill Barn & Rotary Recreation Grounds which is regularly modified by the users. The site consists of a run with jumps and take off points.

Future plans for housing at the Titnore area of West Durrington will allow a second Skate/BMX facility to be built in this area.

Fitness Equipment

In 2006 the Council was awarded £50k as part of the Coastal Single Regeneration Budget. This was a windfall, as the Council had not applied for the funding. The Council purchased some fitness units and installed them at Victoria Park, Longcroft Park and Northbrook Recreation Ground.

As part of the Council’s successful £200k Lottery Bid securing funding for Children’s play equipment in December 2007, a fitness pod was installed at Tarring Rec in August 2008. The equipment consists of five gym type outdoor fitness equipment including a Rowing Machine, Strider, Chest Press, Pull Down Exerciser and a Lateral Leg Exerciser.  Unfortunately, this equipment is currently out of use (November 2008) and will be replaced on site as soon as funds allow.

Teen Shelters/Meeting Points

The Council is introducing meeting points for teens and young people to congregate in parks and open spaces as part of its commitment to providing facilities for all young people. This equipment is usually sited away from playgrounds to confirm the equipment is specifically aimed at the older youths. Typically it is installed as far away from properties as a site will allow and where fitness units are installed on a site, they are installed as a joint unit.

Currently Meeting Points are installed in Homefield Park, Homefield Park Skate Park, Northbrook Rec, Longcroft Park, Bourne Close, Tarring Recreation Ground, The Gallops and Pond Lane Rec.

Subject to funding, future units could be installed at Palatine Park,  Dominion Road Open Space and West Park Leisure Centre.

Back to Navigation - Back to the top of this article