As part of a six year £10 million project to protect Morecambe from coastal flooding, Lancaster City Council wanted to create a destination playground on the town’s seafront.
The new playground needed to be strong enough to stand up to the coastal environment. The playground was to be given a maritime theme to complement its location on the seafront and adjacency to Morecambe’s sailing club.
There’s limited space on the site with a maximum width of 10 metres so Sutcliffe Play also needed to be clever with the design to create maximum play value for all its users.
Sutcliffe Play was required to work with the project’s contractor VBA, which is a joint venture comprising of VolkerStevin, Boskalis Westminster and Atkins.
The narrow playground is packed with six pieces of equipment that combined offer endless play opportunities. Two main play units have been installed:
- The 6 metre high Teenzone ‘Lighthouse’ features a covered tunnel slide, rope climb, climbing wall and seating areas to encourage social and active play.
- The ‘Morecambe Scooner’ is a galleon inspired unit featuring a range of sailing activities and includes a full set of sails and a bow with anchor detail. Access points include a rope climb, cargo net, pull up ramp and steps whilst quick exits can be made via two slides and a fireman’s pole. The theme continues ‘below deck’ with cannons and cabin doors encouraging imaginative play.
These are complemented with kit from Sutcliffe Play’s New World’s collection of theme playground equipment. The New Worlds Collection is designed to kick-start a child’s creativity and instantly transports them to another world. The Seaside Oyster Roundabout and Pablo the Penguin Seesaw fit with the maritime theme and offer inclusive play options.
To complete the playground nest, pod and bump swings have been installed alongside a Rock Spinner offering dynamic and physical play solutions.
