£200,000 to make Waddy wonderful
News article
Selection of balls
Work is to start “within weeks” on a £200,000 upgrade to a St Annes park.
Councillors agreed to appoint contractors to work on Waddington Playing Field, an existing park that has become run-down and underused.
Improvements will include new paths, construction of a nature conservation area, renewal of the children’s play area - and installation of a computerised “intelligent play unit” that can be linked up to similar units elsewhere in the country.
Work is expected to be complete in October.
Councillor Sue Fazackerley, Fylde Council Cabinet member for Leisure and Culture, said: “There are many families with young children who will benefit from access to what will become an important facility for the area.
“These plans will really turn the playing field around and make it into a major asset.
“There will be something for everyone but what really impresses me is the ’intelligent play unit’. This is a stainless steel frame and users have to press buttons in quick succession. The buttons are yards apart, so you have to run and jump to play the game.
“It is computerised so people can see how they are doing and use it competitively with their friends. Even more fun, it can be linked to machines elsewhere in the country so people – young and old - will be able to compete nationwide.”
The park upgrade will cost a total of £200,000 – but partnership working and fundraising with external organisations mean the capital investment will not cost Fylde Council a penny. Funding is being shared between the National Lottery, New Fylde Housing, Lancashire Environmental Fund, Lancashire County Council and Fylde Local Strategic Partnership.
Councillor Fazackerley added: “The nature of play changes all the time – and the new equipment will make Waddington into one of the most modern parks in the whole of the North West.
“We know it is what the public want because the group consulted with people in the area during the planning phase. People in the area established their own ‘Make Waddy Wonderful’ community group to help with fundraising and design – and we appreciate their input and involvement.”
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