Brief
School children in Wigan helped choose £30,000 worth of new play equipment for a local park after being asked to have their say in a community project aimed at improving leisure facilities and reducing road accidents in the area. Laithwaite Park, which is situated on the edge of a large housing estate, was highlighted as one road accident hotspot where good quality play provision was lacking.
The funding was made available to 5 wards with high deprivation and areas where children were not using the local amenities but playing on the streets. The scheme looked at the ‘triangular’ journey between home, school and a safer place to play as part of the planning process.
Design & Build
Twenty children aged five to 12 were consulted about the project to replace rotting and ageing equipment at Laithwaite Park with new items intended to appeal to youngsters and help keep them away from dangerous roads.
The play section of Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust has for some time been waving an enthusiastic flag for consultation with children – a philosophy shared by Sutcliffe Play.
