Children and families in Monkwick can now enjoy a brand-new play area at School Road, following the completion of Colchester City Council’s latest playground improvement project.
The new play area was unveiled this morning by Councillor Martin Goss, Portfolio Holder for Waste, Neighbourhoods and Leisure, alongside local ward Councillor Dave Harris, in time for children to make the most of the new facilities during August.
A playground chosen by the community
The refurbishment follows a public consultation in which residents were invited to choose from five shortlisted designs for the new play area, with Design Option 4 selected as the community’s favourite. The consultation built on the Council’s wider approach to improving play spaces across the city, following a citywide consultation on 12 play parks which received hundreds of responses and helped strengthen priorities such as accessibility, play value and safety surfacing.
Packed with exciting new play features
The completed playground includes a range of new equipment designed to offer fun, inclusive and challenging play for children of different ages and abilities. Features include a wheelchair-accessible roundabout, inclusive trampoline, accessible ramp, toddler swings, junior swings, a group basket swing, woodland-themed toddler unit, junior adventure unit, slides, monkey bars and sensory play panels.
The £90,000 project was delivered through external funding, bringing significant investment into an improved play space for the local community.
Councillor Martin Goss, Portfolio Holder for Waste, Neighbourhoods and Leisure, said: “This is a fantastic new play area for Monkwick, and I’m delighted that it has opened in time for local children and families to enjoy during the summer holidays.
“Residents helped choose the final design, and the result is a bright, welcoming and inclusive space with something for children of different ages and abilities. We know how important good-quality local play areas are for families, and this project is another example of our commitment to improving play spaces across Colchester.”
The Monkwick project is part of Colchester City Council’s ongoing work to enhance play areas across the city, creating safer, more accessible and enjoyable spaces for children and families.
Pictured above: Cllr Martin Goss and Cllr Dave Harris at the School Road playground.