News from: Reading Borough Council
The council’s ongoing major investment in children’s play areas continues to deliver for communities across Reading.
-Lulworth Road Playground
-South Whitley Recreation Ground
-Coley Recreation Ground Play Area
Playgrounds are an important part of our communities and Reading Borough Council is committed to a widespread programme of improvements.
Outdoor play is vital for children’s health and wellbeing and high-quality equipment accessible as possible for all children and their carers is a key priority ensuring Reading’s neighbourhood playgrounds are providing accessible opportunities for all for local children to enjoy for years to come.
The new play area at Lulworth Road, Whitley, is designed for younger children and includes a multi-unit, play house, spring rides and play panels. The project also redesigned the approach to Lulworth Road bin store to deter fly-tipping, with new paths to the rear and front. There are more improvements to come, with the Council working with an artist to further improve the look and appeal of the area.
South Whitley Recreation Ground’s new toddlers’ play area at Farmers Close includes swings, multi units, a toddler trim trail and slides – all on a safety surface. The much-loved concrete animals have benefited from a repaint and have had a new safety surface installed. Additional improvements in the park include re-surfacing of the ball court with new goal ends with sports markings for football or basketball, and new paths into the park. This work is in addition to the community orchard that was planted early this year.
In Coley local residents helped choose the design of the popular Coley Recreation Ground play area. It includes an exciting mix of equipment, including equipment accessible to all ages and mobility levels. The refurbished play area also has a new surface to enable access for children and carers using mobility aids. Equipment offers challenges for children of all abilities include swings, a toddler and junior multi play units, play panels, an accessible see-saw and a Base Climb play unit.
Reading Borough Council’s investment for these projects comes through the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding – which is from the contribution paid by developers as part of the conditions attached to the granting of new planning permissions.