Barnstaple playground dream comes true
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| • Gracie, Bethany and Ben Miles and Keara Theobold have a swinging time. Ref: GS4402-44-07 |
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| • Family-go-round for Reuben, Harry and Coco Grigg. Ref: GS4410-44-07 |
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| • Bird's eye view of the new play area. Ref: Aerial2-44-07 |
PICTURES BY GEOFF STADDON
THE long-awaited new children’s playground in Rock Park, Barnstaple, was officially opened on Thursday, October 25, bringing to reality a dream stretching back nearly a decade.
Local children and parents joined council representatives to celebrate the opening of the £200,000 amenity, which was carried out jointly by North Devon District Council chairman Cllr Mair Manuel, its leader Cllr Mike Harrison and Mayor of Barnstaple Cllr Sue Haywood.
Among them was local childminder and mother Karen Dennis, who led a three-year parents’ campaign to get work underway after initial council plans hit setbacks, including funding difficulties.
“This is a day I thought would never come, but we have got there in the end,” said Karen. “I would like to thank everyone who helped in the campaign, came to the demonstration and signed our 2,200 name petition. This includes the children, who took great pleasure in helping me.”
The new playground includes separate areas for toddlers and juniors, a picnic and seating area with wheelchair access, a sensory garden and a variety of swings, slides and climbing frames for children of differing abilities.
New paths, lighting, CCTV and a modern toilet block have also been installed as part of the project.
And there is more to come.
This is only the first phase of redevelopment of the park, with plans for a new skateboard park, youth shelters and multi-use tarmac being put together in liaison with a committee of local skaters.
A third phase of redevelopment could see additional planting schemes, a bandstand and re-landscaping of the area by the war memorial.
Mrs Manuel said: “I am delighted that the hard work of the past eight years has finally come to fruition and that Rock Park has begun the process of becoming the premier park in North Devon for both residents and visitors.”
Mr Harrison added: “The completion of the first part of this project is really good news for the residents of Barnstaple. It will give them a play area and park of which they can be proud.
Mrs Haywood said the opening of the new playground was great for the children of Barnstaple and long overdue. She was pleased it included some amenities for the disabled, but would like to see more.
“The park will be jointly managed with the close working of the town council, which owns the park, and the district council, which has managed it for the past 35 years,” she said.
“We look forward to a close working relationship with the district council in the future to the benefit of the people of Barnstaple and Rock Park’s continued enhancement.”
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| • WHOOSH! A group of children try out the slide – just part of the extensive new equipment at the new Rock Park play area. Ref: GS4412-44-07 |
• The official ribbon cutting carried out jointly by North Devon District Council chairman Mair Manuel, council leader Mike Harrison, and the Mayor of Barnstaple Sue Haywood, watched by Cllr Des Brayley and Cllr John Wilsher. Ref: GS4404-44-07 |
• Youngest playground visitors were Jaden Wyatt and Kiana Lewis with mums Kirsty Rigler and Lynette Lewis
Ref: GS4409-44-07 |
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• The Mayor of Barnstaple Sue Haywood becomes the Lion Queen!
Ref: gs4403-44-07 |
• Georgia Adams, 7, tries out a bouncer. Ref: GS4407-44-07 |
• All aboard the SS Sandpit for Zachary Adams, Marshall Read-Jones, Grace O’Brien and Max Lewis.
Ref: GS4411-44-07 |
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| • Karen Dennis, mums’ campaign leader, watches Laura Hughes and Darren Bailey try out the climbing equipment.
Ref: KarenDennis-44-07 |
• Council cooperation between North Devon District Council leader Mike Harrison and Mayor of Barnstaple Sue Haywood. Ref: gs4405-44-07 |
• Zipping down the wire is six-year-old Natalie Walters. Ref: Zipwire1-44-07 |
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