6:30am Tuesday 22nd July 2008
By Giles Sheldrick
A £2.5M overhaul of Oxford's rusting play areas is to start within months.
All 94 play areas will be transformed from ageing relics to ones containing new swings and slides within two years as part of a radical programme of investment.
The overhaul marks the first major investment in Oxford's municipal play areas in decades.
And the centrepiece of the scheme will be three new destination' play parks - the first of their kind in England - based on adventure playgrounds commonplace in countries like Germany and Denmark.
These would be large, landscaped adventure play parks - some featuring water - and some possibly designed by teenagers.
The announcement comes a year after the Oxford Mail highlighted how bad the city's play equipment was.
In May, an investigation revealed many of the play areas were not fit for purpose and some were even been earmarked for closure.
Carmel Ryan, 44, a mother-of-five from Balfour Road, Blackbird Leys, welcomed the revamp: "It is about time.
"The playgrounds in the old part of Blackbird Leys are disgusting, especially the one in Cuddesdon Way.
"It does need refurbishing - it is smack in the middle of the estate.
"It would be nice if some of the kids could have a choice or a say in it - it would really make it theirs."
Sharon Haynes, 35, a mother-of-three from Radford Close, Rose Hill, said: "The play areas are rubbish. They just need to be updated.
"The estate needs something more exciting for the kids. The mums will be glad there is money to update the playgrounds - I don't think half of them are any good."
The project is deemed so important that a project manager will be employed to oversee the work, which is scheduled to start - subject to council approval - in October.
Experts reckon roughly two thirds of Oxford's play areas need urgent work, while the remaining third requires minor work.
Parents and children will now have a chance to have their say on what they would like to see in each play area.
Senior council officers are in talks with companies about a contract to install and maintain the play equipment, relieving the council of the ongoing repairs.
The cost of the refurbishment programme will be met through existing reserves and borrowing.
City councillor Antonia Bance, board member for social inclusion and young people, said: "This is massively long overdue - and it's a big deal.
"If we get these destination play areas there isn't anywhere else in the country that has them.
"This is probably the biggest play equipment refurbishment programme in the city's history.
"We have lots that are not up to scratch, some are broken and some where young people just don't want to play. In one play area there is a swing stamped 1957 - my mum might have played on it when she was a kid, but it is not something today's children want.
"We think encouraging children to play outdoors and participate in healthy activities is important and a good idea."
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