FIVE areas of Bournemouth have been identified for future investment in playground facilities.

Approximately £750,000 could be spent on upgrading and creating play facilities across the borough. A priority list has been drawn up which includes the areas of Townsend, Churchill Gardens, Shelley Park, Iford, and Strouden.

Other play sites that have been earmarked include Kings Park East, Knyveton Gardens, Winton Library Gardens and Long Road.

Michael Rowland, head of parks development at Bournemouth council, has written a report that will be considered by members of the environment and economy overview and scrutiny panel on Tuesday.

“The council owns, manages and maintains 54 public playgrounds across Bournemouth. As the population grows and changes the need for public playgrounds changes too. Each playground we develop has a limited useful lifespan, requiring replacement and rejuvenation every 15-20 years,” he said.

“Having accessible, inclusive and adventurous play spaces is important for children to develop social and physical skills. Safe and exciting public play spaces are particularly important for families with no access to a garden at home.

“As Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole develop as a new authority, new strategies and plans around public space and its associated facilities will need to be developed. This is an interim plan to ensure that those areas of greatest need in Bournemouth are provided with quality play facilities in line with the ambitions of the Bournemouth Playground Strategy adopted in 2009.”

Funds are not yet in place to deliver all of the council’s proposals, but officers will use the list to prioritise areas for grant applications and other funding.

An estimate of £200,000 would be spent on creating a central park facility for Townsend as a large playground is required for all age ranges in that area.

Around £100,000 could be spent on replacing the play equipment at Churchill Gardens, which is a “very well used site”, the council says.

A smaller playground for younger children is also planned.

Equipment at Shelley Park is also in urgent need of replacement, and the council wants to spend £100,000 on this site, including the creation of a “more natural woodland feel playground”.

Another £200,000 is estimated for replacing equipment at the Rookery and Cranleigh Road areas of Iford.

The council is also exploring the idea of building a sustainable playground in Iford Playing Fields, with a café and toilets.

And around £150,000 could be spent on upgrading the play areas in either Bradpole Road, Strouden Woods, or Mallard Road.