Phase One of Rhyddings Park Refurbishment is now complete and open to the public
Phase One of Rhyddings Park Refurbishment is now complete and open to the public
In May, Phase 1 of the project to refurbish the play area at Rhyddings Park in Oswaldtwistle began, and now 6 weeks later, it is complete and open to the public once again!
Image: Anne Warrington and Councillor Stewart Eaves at Rhyddings Park
The revamp has seen the main play area completely kitted out with new equipment to accommodate children of varying ages and abilities including a new climbing frame and slide. One major change has been the inclusion of equipment designed especially for children with disabilities including a wheelchair accessible roundabout, whilst an accessible swing seat will be installed shortly.
During our public consultations, we heard from 452 residents (including 89 children from local schools) and took comments into consideration while redesigning the park. We wanted to make sure that Rhyddings Park reflected the wants and needs of the local community – so it could be enjoyed by everyone.
Councillor Stewart Eaves, Portfolio Holder for Environmental Services said:
It’s fantastic to see the main play area at Rhyddings Park open once again and being enjoyed by families. We know how important these spaces are to our communities, and we’re proud to continue investing in them — not just here, but across the borough, including the recent improvements at Masefield Close.
This refurbishment was designed with inclusivity in mind, ensuring children of different ages and abilities can play together. While we understand that change can take some getting used to, we’re confident that the new equipment offers something for everyone to enjoy this summer and beyond.
Looking ahead, we’re also excited to be progressing plans for improvements at Gatty Park in Church, continuing our commitment to enhancing play and green spaces for all.”
Hyndburn Borough Council, in partnership with Friends of Rhyddings Park, have invested a total of £120,000 – which includes a generous donation of £30,000 from the Lancashire Environmental Fund. The work will be carried out over two stages. Stage one, which is now complete, has seen a refurbishment of the main play area. Stage two is focussed on the woodland play area and will begin later this year. It will see the installation of a new safety surface, a platform for the slide and a new bouldering wall.
Benched seating is also in place for parents and carers to relax as their children enjoy the new equipment.
Ann Warrington, Chairperson of the Friends of Rhyddings Park said:
‘We have been thrilled to work with the Council on this project to improve Rhyddings Park., it’s wonderful to work on something which will have such a large impact on the local community.
Phase One is just the beginning and we cannot wait to see the woodland play area be improved later this year.”