CHILDREN in Colwick were bursting with excitement on Saturday as they swung, slid and climbed in their brand new play park following its official opening.
The grand opening of the park on Valeside Gardens was the culmination of hard work by Colwick Parish Council and Gedling Borough Council, who found £49,999 of investment to transform the run-down village play area into a fun-packed space for all ages.
The investment came from WREN, a not-for-profit business that awards grants for community, conservation and heritage projects from funds donated by waste and resource management company FCC Environment through the Landfill Communities Fund.
The new-look park features a timber trail, swings, slides and toddler multi-unit climbing apparatus.
Cllr Peter Barnes, Gedling Borough Council’s Portfolio Holder for Environment said: “We’re very pleased to be able to open the refurbished play area at Valeside Gardens and I’m sure the children will be delighted with all the new equipment.
“I’d like to thank Colwick Parish Council for all their hard work and to WREN for funding the project.”
Cllr Meredith Lawrence, Colwick Ward councillor for Gedling Borough Council, said: “I was pleased that the much needed refurbishment has come about, and this was thanks to GBC’s Parks and Street Care, CPC, WREN, and local people who were consulted on the design.”
Alison Nunn, Chair of Colwick Parish Council said: “The Parish Council would like to thank firstly WREN for the grant money that made this possible, Gedling Borough Council Parks Team for their support in every aspect of the funding application and their work on the park and especially the residents of Colwick Village who came together to turn a neglected space into an up-to-date area for people to meet and where children can play safely on new equipment.”
Cheryl Raynor, WREN’s grant manager for Nottinghamshire, said the business were delighted to be able to provide funding for the scheme.
She said: “It’s wonderful to see something we have funded finally open and ready to make such a difference to children in the local area.
“WREN is always happy to consider grant applications for projects that benefit local communities and this is a great example of what can be achieved.”
(Photos kindly supplied by Mark Glover and Meredith Lawrence)
