Swindon Borough Council have given children who love Coate Water an early Christmas present with the news that work to create a new £500,000 play park will begin in the new year.
The new park, which will be fully accessible to all children, will provide a wide range of play equipment and have capacity for up to 100 children from toddlers up to those aged 14.
In-ground trampolines, slides and a nine-platform multi-play unit will also be added to keep children entertained as well as an inclusive sandpit, sensory bells and wind chimes, together with an inclusive spinning carousel.
An inclusive wheelchair roundabout, an inclusive multi-play seesaw and a larger multi-play unit are some of the new features of the play park. A number of swings will also be built, including one which is wheelchair accessible.
Funding for the new play park has been secured from Section 106 developer contributions with construction set to take around 12 weeks with work to build the park is due to start next month.
Councillor Matty Courtliff, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Heritage, Leisure and Town Centre Experience, said: “Delivering a new play park at Coate Water has been one of my top priorities so it’s fantastic we can announce that work will start in a matter of weeks. It’s great news just before Christmas.
“We have been working closely with ESP who are experts in accessible play parks and I am delighted we have been able to incorporate a wheelchair accessible swing as that was something local group Mums on a Mission were keen to see included in the new park.
“This will be Swindon’s fully-accessible play park and when it’s finished, every child in Swindon will have somewhere to play and express themselves, so I’m really excited to see the finished results in time for the warmer weather in Spring.”
