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Britannia Park in Rowley Regis has become the focal point of a substantial investment aimed at enhancing its facilities and environmental quality. As part of the Britannia Park Greenspace and Community Hub project, funded through a combination of the Towns Fund and match funding from Sandwell Council, Lawn Tennis Association, and the English Cricket Board, this £2.5 million investment promises to bring substantial improvements to the park by December 2025.
The New Play Area: Was It Worth £250,000?
A significant portion of the investment, £250,000, went towards installing a new play area, which officially opened on August 13th, inaugurated by the Mayor of Sandwell, Councillor Syeda Khatun. The playground boasts a large climbing frame with a slide, a zipline, a seesaw, swings, and a wheelchair-accessible roundabout. While these additions have certainly created a fresh look for the park, they have not come without mixed reviews from the community.
The Good:
The new playground has several standout features:
Suitable for Older Children: The area caters to children aged five and up, with exciting features such as tall slides and a challenging climbing frame.
Inclusivity in Play: The addition of a wheelchair-friendly roundabout is a great step towards making the park more accessible for children of all abilities. However, I think the play area has a long way to go!
Safety Considerations: A fence around the play area helps keep smaller children safe.
The Not-so-Good:
However, there are some notable downsides:
Limited Options for Younger Children: The new playground lacks sufficient equipment for toddlers and younger children. The only features available for them include two swings, a seesaw, a roundabout, and a small car rocker. The removal of the previous toddler area with no replacement has been a significant loss and will put many families off visiting the play area.
Safety Concerns with the New Equipment: Access to the big slide is restricted to a rope-style climbing route, a small rock wall, or a ladder with large gaps, which may be challenging for younger children or non-natural climbers.
Additionally, the base of the slides lacks softer flooring, posing a potential safety hazard. We saw a young child go down the slide but other children climbed up, which then caused the child to bounce off the side of the slide, landing on his neck! Luckily, he was fine, but it was just an accident waiting to happen. There are signs saying no climbing up the slides, but unfortunately, this didn't stop many children trying to climb up, spoiling it for others.
Some gym-style play equipment has been installed, however, this has been oddly placed on top of higgledy-piggledy tarmac, and again, nothing really accessible for children.
Inconsiderate Dog-Walkers: The small obstacle course next to the enclosed park has no fencing, and we saw a dog walker letting their dogs urinate against it. And to add to this, I've heard that since our visit, the bridge has already been broken by older children.
Fewer Amenities: The playground has fewer swings compared to the old layout (now only two compared to the previous six), and limited seating, with only four benches available around the play area. There's lots of room for more!
A Broader Look at the Britannia Park Improvement Project
While opinions may be divided on the new playground, the £2.5 million investment into Britannia Park goes well beyond just the play area. The project, which began in June 2022, encompasses a broad range of improvements designed to enhance the park’s infrastructure and promote greater community use:
New and Improved Facilities: The park will see the development of a new low-carbon community building to house changing rooms, which are currently under construction and set to be completed by summer 2025.
Refurbished and New Sports Amenities: Refurbished tennis courts and a reconstructed skate park (set for completion by summer 2025) aim to boost recreational activities in the area.
Improved Pathways and Accessibility: The park now includes new pathways, with an additional 0.5 km of pedestrian paths. These paths are intended to provide a safe, accessible route around the park for walkers, joggers, and cyclists.
Enhanced Green Spaces: The project also focuses on environmental improvements, including new tree planting (a 2:1 replacement for trees removed), new allotment plots (completed in August 2024), and upgrades to the existing entrance and driveway to improve access and safety.
Expanded Parking: An expanded car park accommodating 65 vehicles is due for completion in March 2025. Although, I'm not sure why 65 car parking spaces are needed.
Conclusion: A Step in the Right Direction, but Room for Growth
Overall, the investment in Britannia Park represents a substantial commitment to improving the local community's health and well-being by providing better facilities and a more inviting environment.
However, whether the new play area alone justifies its £250,000 price tag remains a matter of personal opinion. While there are several positive additions, there is a clear opportunity for further enhancement, particularly in making the playground more inclusive for younger children and adding more safety features. With the sheer amount of space available at Britannia Park, including a currently overgrown bowling green, there's no excuse for a bigger, more-thought-out development.
Have you visited the new Britannia Park playground yet? What are your thoughts?
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