A community in Upper Weston, Bath, is thrilled they it soon have a new play park installed in time for summer this year. The community around Broadmoor Lane came together to re-instate its well used and much loved facility, after the original play equipment was removed in May 2017 due to health and safety concerns with the ageing equipment.
The small play park, nestled in The Orchard at Broadmoor Lane, has for many years been a valued social hub and local destination for families with young children. The original equipment – including swings and a slide – was installed over a dozen years ago as part of a housing development, but no long-term plan existed for its inevitable need for replacement.
With parks budgets facing unprecedented constraint, local residents looked for a creative way to fund a new play area, and launched The Orchard Play Park Appeal. After months of fundraising and campaigning, the community have now reached their target to fund a new playground – an incredible £30,000+. Schoolchildren ran cake sales at nearby Weston All Saints Primary, with even the very youngest members of the community working hard at selling bits and bobs to chip in £4.32 towards the appeal.
In total, the community raised over £2,500 in donations from individuals and local businesses, while B&NES Council contributed £2,700, housing developers Redcliffe Homes pledged £10,000 and Bath Recreation Limited have stepped in to match fund the remainder.
Plans have been agreed for a wood-based design in keeping with the natural setting of the Orchard. The new play equipment includes two cradle swings, two flat base swings, a climbing tower with slide and spinner plate.
Rachel Jarai, a local resident involved in the fundraising campaign, described the play park project as “An exciting way to affirm our community’s values and get people involved. This outdoor space is invaluable to young families. My kids are older now, but I remember well the time when a go on the swings was a highlight of their day, and we made many friends there. It’s worth noting that many of the people behind the Orchard Play Park campaign are parents of older children, who felt really strongly that parents in the future should be able to enjoy the same quality of resources their own kids enjoyed. We’re thrilled with the result.”