Children help officially open new-look Glen Gardens play area

Children from Tang Hall Primary School will help to officially open the newly transformed play area at Glen Gardens, marking a step forward in a series of council-funded improvements to parks across York.

The opening event celebrates the major investment in the popular community park and highlights how local children helped shape its final design.

Earlier this year, pupils from Tang Hall Primary School and Heworth Primary School were invited to review different design options for the play area and share their views on what they wanted to see included. Their feedback directly influenced the final scheme, ensuring the new play space reflects the needs and aspirations of local children and families.

Children attending the opening will be among the first to enjoy the completed play area, alongside councillors, council officers and invited guests.

Cllr Bob Webb, Executive Member for Children, Young People and Education, said: “It’s fantastic to see the new Glen Gardens play area open and ready for local children and families to enjoy. From the beginning, we wanted young people to have a real say in the project, and the ideas shared by pupils from Tang Hall and Heworth schools have helped create a play space that is fun, welcoming and inclusive.

“I’m delighted to be joining children for the official opening and to celebrate what has been achieved together. This investment is helping us create high-quality spaces where children can thrive though playing, learning, being active and making lasting memories.”

The project has been funded through developer contributions – funding required when planning permission is granted for significant sized developments.

And it comes at a time when the council is funding a wider programme of improvements to parks and green spaces across the city, thanks to its £750,000 Parks Investment Fund approved in last year’s budget.

Executive Member for Environment, Councillor Jenny Kent said: “The new Glen Gardens play area looks great and will bring fun and enjoyment for years to come.  Involving our local children in its design is key, and I hope they are excited to see their vision become a reality.

“We are working hard on similar schemes through our Parks Investment Fund which will address a longstanding need for parks improvement across the city, including for those that missed out on funding in previous years.

“Parks and green spaces are so important to children’s development and wellbeing which was a major driver behind our commitment to launching a new Fund. We have already seen fantastic work in parks and play areas in Westfield, Clifton and Hull Road, with several others due for completion in the next six months”.

The new play area includes a wide range of exciting and inclusive features designed to encourage active play, exploration and social interaction. New equipment includes climbing structures, wobble beams, monkey bars, a timber agility trail and an embankment slide, alongside inclusive facilities such as a wheelchair-accessible roundabout, sensory play panels and a supportive swing seat.

As well as the council’s £750,000 Parks Investment Fund, Section 106 developer and other contributions boost the wider parks improvement programme to around £925,000.

Glen Gardens is also set to see its basketball court resurfaced and perimeter fencing replaced – one of around 20 schemes made possible by the Parks Investment Fund which will be the subject of an update report to the council’s next Executive meeting on 6 October.