Queens Park play area open after major refurbishments

Repair works took place to the existing fort structure using recycled plastic and groyne timbers. A brand-new multi-play climbing frame and replacement swings have been installed at the park.

The decking for the fort and the access ramp have been made from roughly 450,000 recycled plastic bottles, the wobble bridge is also back, and balance beams have been made from felled trees that were dead or dangerous.

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More people will be able to make the most of the play area and café facilities with a repaired access ramp giving greater accessibility

The refurbished play area is a vital part of the council’s commitment to provide high-quality, inclusive and accessible play areas for communities across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.

Improvements were possible due to a £73,000 grant from Veolia Environmental Trust’s Landfill Communities Fund and with funding from the BCP Plan for Play, getting to work to ensure the play area, café, and toilets are inclusive for the whole community.

Working in partnership with Queens Park and Charminster Neighbourhood Forum, feedback from a public consultation helped deliver a successful funding bid.

The consultation highlighted the importance of the Woodpecker Play Area to the wider community with 99.7 per cent of respondents saying the place was an important local facility.

An official launch event will be taking place at 10am on October 28, children and young people are encouraged to attend and get a first taste of the new equipment. Queens Park golf shop and cafe will be offering 10 per cent off all food and drinks at the event.

Cllr Sandra Moore, portfolio holder with responsibility for Play Strategy at BCP Council said: “This is a fantastic example of how collaboration between passionate councillors and community groups can help deliver for residents.

“The benefits of play are so much more than just in the moment – it’s the freedom of learning and growing outside of school, and it’s so important we provide those same building blocks for development to future generations.

“I’m really pleased to see this exciting new chapter for Queen’s Park come to fruition and this is just the start – our greenspaces team are hard at work putting play areas back at the heart of local communities across our towns.”

Cllr Alasdair Keddie, ward councillor for Queen’s Park said: “I am delighted that the Woodpecker Play Area is re-opening, bigger, better and with more fun equipment for the children to engage with.  This has been a brilliant community partnership between BCP Council and the Queen’s Park & Charminster Neighbourhood Forum.

“Securing extra grant funding from the Veolia Community Trust was a vital part of this and I’m pleased to have been able to bring that to the table.  This really shows what can be achieved when we work together.”