A popular play park in Grange has been given a new lease of life – one of the first successes of a multi-million pound project to rejuvenate the area.
The park on the promenade now boasts modern and inclusive play equipment for children and youngsters aged from six months up to 15 years old, including a new train engine and carriage for the younger ones to enjoy and a wheelchair roundabout and mirage swing seat for those with additional mobility needs.
The playground has been designed and supplied by Kompan Scotland and features many elements made from their Greenline range, which has been developed from materials made from ocean waste, textile and food packaging waste. For example, the challenging Bloqx climbing system at the Grange play park for eight to 15-year-olds is made from 75 per cent ocean waste, such as old fishing nets.
What used to be the “toddler” end of the park is now a picnic area with picnic tables and a grassed area for families to enjoy the space and great views across the estuary, while all ages play together.
New benches and bins will also be installed in the main play park in the coming weeks.
The play park is one of the first major milestones in the £6.8m Grange Lido and Promenade restoration, which started in April.
An opening ceremony was held at the play park yesterday (Monday, 31 July).
Councillor Dyan Jones, Cabinet member for Customer and Waste Services, said: “The playground here has been much-loved by families for many years and I am delighted to see bright, brilliant, and accessible new equipment set to provide years of fun for the future in this lovely location.
“The promenade and the lido make this a special place, loved by those who live in the community and those who visit from near and far. Westmorland and Furness Council are very proud to be spending £6.8million on this important lido and promenade project.
“The opening of the play park is a small but significant milestone on the journey towards the whole area being rejuvenated and becoming a major asset for Westmorland and Furness and Morecambe Bay, in our continuing ambition to make this a great place to live, work and thrive.”
The whole project, which will see the lido open to the public again with a temporary infill to the pool to create a new multi-use public space for the local community and visitors, is set to take 14 months to complete.
Since work on the lido and promenade started, main contractors RH Irving Construction have commenced site clearance and demolition work, including demolition of the existing perimeter walls and retaining walls, and started the sea wall repairs and installation of the new drainage system. On the promenade, work on the existing sea wall has started.
Mark Moodycliffe, Managing Director, R H Irving Construction said: “We are delighted to have commenced work at Grange Lido and promenade and to be working in partnership with Westmorland and Furness Council, the project design team and the local community to successfully deliver this complex project.”
More details about the project
