The £265,000 Junior play area, which complements the new £150,000 toddler area Toddler Play Area at the park, includes a slide and a talk tube so children can speak to each other on different sides of the playground, together with a Spinmee Inclusive Roundabout for different ages and groups so younger children can sit and enjoy the ride accompanied by their parent or carer.

The scheme is part of Bentwood Borough Council’s five year strategic play investment programme, which includes £290,000 of new play equipment, landscaping and an outdoor gym at Warley Playing Fields and a £90,000 play makeover at Courage Playing Fields.

Work begins this month on a £320,000 refurbishment at Hutton Recreation, while works will get underway this winter on a £175,000 renovation at North Road. 

“We earmarked £2m as part of the five year strategy to improve the Borough’s play areas and the scheme has already seen the completion of Warley Playing Fields with its outside gym, River Road and Courage Playing Fields. Given the scenario of the last year, the timing for this could not be better,” said Cllr Cliff Poppy, chair of Community and Health Committee. 

“We know that play areas are vital for our children’s health and wellbeing and it is always a pleasure to see children and families coming together to enjoy them. While the overall £7m scheme at King George’s progresses with its Splash pad and Adventure Play Area the work on Hutton Recreation Play Area will get underway too.”