Published Friday 31 January 2020 at 13:51
This winning design has been selected to create a £135k new play area, set within Blackburn’s beautiful Victorian Corporation Park.
The play area will include more than 100 new play activities with around 30 different play features.
The new addition to the park is being funded from what are known as Section 106 money raised from housing developments to be put back into the local community to help improve neighbourhoods.
Cllr Jim Smith, Executive Member for Environment, said:
We are delighted to be able to announce this fantastic news. The Council, in partnership with volunteers recognise the importance of protecting our public spaces for the use of many generations to come.
Corporation Park is one of the busiest parks in the borough and is a great place for families and friends to meet up and to take in the lovely scenery.
It’s the simple things in life that are the best, just being able to enjoy being outdoors and watching your children have fun is priceless. This new play space is going to be fantastic and I’m delighted that it’s got to this point. If you haven’t been to Corporation Park yet it’s a beautiful place, I guarantee that you won’t be disappointed. This is a brilliant boost to the town and the park for residents and visitors alike.
Helen Voegt, Chair of Corporation Park Supporters Group, said:
Our group works tirelessly to help protect and improve the quality of Corporation Park and its environment for the benefit of all the people who use it.
We have been working with the Council’s Environmental Department on the new play-area project for some time, and are delighted that our combined efforts have come to fruition. We are proud that this new Flagship play-area reflects the status of the peoples Corporation Park, as it is a Grade II* listed park and gardens of specific historical interest.
Designers were asked to address accessibility needs within their design, including ramp systems to provide a fully inclusive play experience allowing access for wheelchairs and those with limited mobility factoring in sensory requirements of children and young people with Autism.
Council Leader Mohammed Khan said:
It’s been a long time in the planning for our staff working closely with the supporters group to ensure we have the right scheme but we think it’s going to be worth the wait.
Residents and visitors alike will be delighted to see what this play area is going to look like, the plans look brilliant. It’s going to be a wonderful contribution to one of our towns finest assets.
The new play area will complement the park’s existing activities being home to a children’s cycle track, tennis courts, and adults outdoor gym, bowling greens with new bowling pavilion, newly renovated gatehouse and a discovery trail with discovery stones taking visitors on an interesting journey right around the park.
There’s also an abundance of wildlife, sculptures and a dedicated memorial garden.
Cllr Zainab Rawat, Shear Brow and Corporation Park ward councillor, said:
“Ward councillors, volunteers and Council staff have worked so hard to help bring this to life.
“With so many different pulls on Council resources, we are delighted that investment from local development is being channelled back into the community to help keep the park alive and buzzing. Parks are the hub of a community and we all want to do what we can to protect our borough’s finest assets.
“We know this significant investment in the play area will encourage more residents and visitors to visit our wonderful borough and get the most out of our parks.”
Work is due to be completed late Spring 2020.
The park was officially opened in 1857 and is registered by English Heritage as a park and garden of special historic interest.
CGI images for the younger children’s play area and the older children’s play areas: