Published Wednesday 12 October 2022 at 16:26
A Darwen playground is set to open after undergoing a £100,000 transformation.
Blackburn with Darwen Council commissioned work to renovate the playground last month at Blacksnape Playing Fields.
Work to finish this fantastic new Darwen-themed play area is due to be completed in the coming days and will provide local young children and families’ hours of outdoor fun and games for years to come.
Occupying the same size area as before, the facility has a completely new look and feel, with multiple pieces of modern equipment, including new swings and even double racing zip-wires.
The development fulfils a design brief that ensured the winning contractors, Kompan LTD, produced an inclusive, modern and appealing play area for all local residents to enjoy.
Money for the renovation has been secured as part of a Section 106 agreement with McDermott Homes – the developers building off nearby Ellison Fold Way.
Darwen Councillor Brian Taylor officially opened the park alongside Council Leader Phil Riley, Executive Member Jim Smith and Deputy Leader and Children’s Services Executive Member, Cllr Julie Gunn.
Cllr Brian Taylor, Assistant Executive Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said:
“I’m really pleased that we have been able to listen to our residents and that councillors 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.”
As a father and grandfather myself I too know first-hand that it’s the simple things in life that are often the best.
We’re incredibly lucky to be surrounded by fantastic green, open spaces in the borough. Parks are the hub of a community and we all want to do everything we can to make the most of them.
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.”
The Council has been able to commit the full £100,000 from the Section 106 contributions at Ellison Fold Way to ensure we have fit-for-the-future facilities for our residents.
The next five years will see tens of millions of pounds invested in to transforming Darwen as part of the Town Deal. As part of the Town Deal, plans are also being looked at to make the most of Darwen’s rolling countryside as part of a new ‘Destination Darwen’ scheme. This would include improved connections linking the town centre, residential neighbourhoods, parks and the moors.
These trails will be aimed at encouraging more active travel – particularly walking and cycling – and outdoor exercise options for residents as well as encouraging new visitors to help boost the local economy.