Play partnership gets over £1.1 million funding for play areas in Bucks
Archived press release
Date Published: 24/04/09
More play improvements are planned this year
Aylesbury Vale District Council has teamed up with three neighbouring local authorities to get a total of £1.126 million extra government money to spend on play areas in Buckinghamshire.
Working together as the Bucks Play Forum, AVDC joined with Wycombe District Council, Chiltern District Council, South Bucks District Council and Buckinghamshire County Council to apply for ‘PlayBuilder’ grant funding from the government.
As a result, the Department of Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) has awarded Buckinghamshire £1.126 million funding to build 22 new play areas across the county over the next two years.
AVDC will provisionally get over £350,000 of this funding with £190,000 coming this year. This year’s money will be used for four substantial play projects in Aylesbury, and a further three in 2010/11.
This year’s funding will be spent in the following areas:
• Alfred Rose Park, Elmhurst and Watermead
• Denby Walk, Oakfield
• Haddington Way, Oakfield
• Waivers Way, Mandeville and Elm Farm
Each of these play areas will focus on improving play primarily for the 8 to 13 age range and will be designed to encourage children to play independently outdoors, to face challenges and to learn about and take measured risks in an innovative, stimulating and fun environment.
Councillor David Thompson, Aylesbury Vale District Council’s Cabinet Member for Leisure, said: “We are delighted to have received this money from the PlayBuilder programme. It means we can upgrade these play areas to a very high standard, and involve those who will use the facilities most – the children and young people. Play is a clear contributor to healthy activity and the delivery of these play sites will encourage Aylesbury’s children and young people to live more active lifestyles.”
The play areas will aim to stimulate child development through play and bring children into contact with nature. Innovative designs will move away from the more conventional rubberised, sanitised and fenced-in areas known today as the KFC (Kit, Fence, Carpet) type of play area and might include elements such as earth mounds and other natural materials, group play items and features designed to promote positive social contact and interaction through play.
Neighbouring district councils will receive the following funding:
• Chiltern - £204,743
• South Bucks - £156,618
• Wycombe - £409,486
The overall aim of the initiative is to reach those children with the greatest needs, give local people the chance to use healthy, high quality play sites near to where they live and to give parents the confidence to let their children enjoy outdoor play.