Playbuilder Project

Kings Close Play Park is situated in Catterick Village, at the north facing end of the village leading out to the Race Course. The play park is owned and maintained by Catterick Village Parish Council. The site is one of three play areas within the village and is predominately the most used by children. However after speaking with local residents they felt that the sites equipment was outdated and has unfortunately become subject to vandalism.

A1 Community Works (A1CW) has successfully won capital funding from Play England (PE) to redevelop the site and update some of the play equipment. Working with PE ’s delivery partner North Yorkshire County Council it is estimated that the redevelopment will be completed by the end of March 2011. Catterick Parish Council has also kindly agreed to match fund £5,000 to provide some much needed new fencing for the site.

PE is an organisation funded by the Big Lottery Fund and is dedicated to establishing play as an important part of a childhood. PE works closely with local authorities and the third sector to ensure that England’s first ever national play strategy transforms public play spaces and services. A1CW will be developing the site inline with PE’s remit for natural play, ensuring that the area has more to provide than just equipment by changing the land it sits on.

A1CW is currently at the consultation stage with the project, having made contact with several play equipment providers and received some initial plans. As well as speaking to landscapers. In May A1CW visited Michael Syddall Primary School and spoke to the children and had them provide their ideas and thoughts as what they wish the new play park to look like. Following on from this, older children from the Youth Club and other groups will be consulted to get their views on the park. Parents and residents will also be invited to share their views at an open forum planned for later in the year. If you would like to be involved in the project please don’t hesitate to contact us either by visiting our office on the High Street or calling us on 01748 810050 and asking for Tanya Cook, Jane Branch or Gabi Fisher. If you would like to know more about PlayBuilder Click here.