Families are celebrating after a bigger and better play area opened at a popular park in Burton Joyce.
Villagers will now benefit from the newly refurbished playground on Church Road thanks to a £100,000 grant from FCC Communities Foundation.
New items include a large and challenging central play unit with curved slide, a four-seater seesaw, a trim trail, a spinner and a four-way springer.
Burton Joyce Parish Council and The Friends of Roberts Recreation Ground, who fundraised to get the park improved, said one of the major aims was to make the park more accessible to all with the installation of new pathways and surfacing, which have totally transformed the facility.
Councillor Robin Ringham, vice chair of the Parish Council commended all those involved in the project.
He said: “Our sincere thanks are extended to the Friends of Roberts Recreation Ground who instigated this refurbishment and gained the support of the community for it though their tireless fund-raising activities, particularly in such difficult times.
“I would also like to thank the Parish Council staff and councillors who have worked incredibly hard in the background to support this worthwhile project”.
Laura Smith, the chair of the Friends of Roberts Recreation Ground cut the ribbon to officially open the park today.
She said: “On behalf of the Friends of Roberts Recreation Ground we would like to thank the Parish Council and the whole local community who came together to support our fundraising bid and the FCC for the funds who made this project happen.
“It was a joy to see all the smiles on the children’s faces this morning and we hope it will be enjoyed for years to come”.
Chair of the Parish Council, Councillor Laurence King said: “I would like to add thanks to local business and individuals who donated funds that enabled the application to be made to the FCC.
“This valuable facility is going to make a real difference to those who use it, as well as the wider Gedling community. We are very grateful to FCC Communities Foundation for providing funding as without its support we would not have been able to proceed”.
As well as the Parish Council, key supporters of the project have been our Trent Valley Councillors Mike Adams and Sam Smith via their communities’ funds and local estate agent Lesley Greaves.
Lesley Greaves said: “We are proud to say we sponsored The Friends of Roberts Recreation Ground and raised a total of £2,300 to help with new equipment and enabled them to achieve the grant required.
“For every new instruction we had in between December 2019 & April 2020 we donated £100!! We can’t wait to see all the families enjoying the new park!”
A bigger, formal opening is planned for Saturday, April 30.
The new climbing frame is an absolute death trap. It won’t be long before a major accident happens.
Large gaps at the side for children to fall down if they slip. The gaps between the bridge planks are huge.
Whoever signed this off on the committee should be ashamed.
Strange how people are struggling for food or support but parks are being done up when in this case there was nothing wrong with it before …. I realise there is a money pot for every thing but why not stop unnecessary spending on things that are safe save money and put it back in to the local community… let’s do it for a year we will all be happier.