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Ropner Park, Stockton-on-Tees

Client: Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council


Cost: £210,000


Date: July 2024


Genre: Inclusive, Community

A Revitalised Play Space at Ropner Park!

Ropner Park, located in the west of Stockton, has been a proud centre of the community for many years, and has a long and rich heritage as the area’s only Victorian-era park. Its playground had long provided excitement for younger visitors – but years of heavy use meant it now required an extensive overhaul. We were excited to bring our experience, knowledge and ideas to this important challenge, in partnership with Stockton Council.

First of all, we undertook a thorough site survey, and studied the brief in order to finalise a design which brought the council’s vision to life. Many existing items would be removed, whilst others would remain, in order to retain the site’s existing nautical theme and colour palette. Our new equipment would therefore need to integrate seamlessly alongside these remaining items, and develop the marine aesthetic.

Planning for Play

In terms of play value, the new equipment would need to be robust enough to withstand sustained daily use, whilst offering engagement for both toddler and junior-aged users. Specifically, it had to provide risk and reward for more able young visitors, as well as guaranteeing inclusivity and accessibility for children with disabilities, whether in the form of a physical impairment, neurodivergent condition, or behavioural/emotional challenges. Meeting all of these requirements compelled us to design a play space with an array of physically challenging play experiences, as well as a range of tactile, sensory benefits across many textures, surfaces and colours.

We began by removing the redundant existing items, making way for an exciting selection of new equipment. The area’s spacious layout would allow users of all abilities (as well as wheelchairs and buggies) to traverse it unencumbered, and the circulation zones around each new unit would enable the free flow of people, and allow them to play without fear of congestion or collision.

During the installation, we provided regular updates to the users of Ropner Park in the form of a new progress page on our website, regularly updated and easily accessible from a QR code displayed at the site. This page offered us a welcome opportunity to explain the work we were doing, as we introduced a fantastic variety of dynamic new equipment.

Out of the Blue!

A striking infusion of safe, consistent play carpet surfacing was then installed, with its vivid blue colouring retaining the site’s existing nautical theming (and perfectly marrying with two new 3D wet pour shapes in the form of a shark and starfish). To complement this aesthetic, it was decided that many of the new items would be recoloured in striking red, cooling sky blue, or both, making the updated space impossible to ignore.

Inclusive Group Seesaw and shark and starfish wet pour 3D shapes at Ropner Park

The imposing central tower boasts the biggest visual ‘WOW’ factor, as well as providing huge play value. With more than 18 physical, social, dynamic and imaginative play features, the 8m high tower can accommodate up to 38 users. It delivers accessible sensory features at ground level, including a ‘hut’, tracker panel, and an ‘owl talker’ to communicate across the unit.

Multiple challenging play points allow young adventurers to ascend its platforms, including a pole climb, vertical rung ascent, rope climb, inclusive scramble net, and an inclined hand over hand. Conversely, a set of slide bars offers an easy exit back to ground level, and an eye-catching 4m high stainless steel tube chute provides a more exhilarating descent. Resplendent in its striking red and blue recolouring, the tower now naturally dominates the space.

Play for All

It is surrounded by an extensive range of supporting equipment, including our Inclusive Group Seesaw, which is full of play value for up to six users. The seesaw enables dynamic rocking and balancing fun, and users can sit or stand on its large central platform. A unique, cutaway seat on one end also increases accessibility for children with limited physical mobility.

Elsewhere, engaging imaginative/role play opportunities are provided by one of our newest pieces, the Medical Activity Centre – the first to be installed in the country. Fixed around a central 1.30m post, the unit incorporates eight play panels related to health and medicine, with eleven play activity elements including a doctors’ surgery with a table, and an opticians’ panel with sight test charts.

Medical Activity Centre and Woodland Tower and Inclusive Group Seesaw at Ropner Park

As envisioned from the project’s inception, the new space features dedicated inclusive provision: our durable Inclusive Wheelchair Roundabout delivers a thrilling spinning sensation for all, with its in-ground design and non-slip features, able to accommodate a centrally positioned wheelchair. It also features two seats for parents, carers or friends, and a contrasting lime green colour edge acts as a visual indicator for partially sighted users.

Similarly, our Inclusive Dish Roundabout provides good body support for two users, including those with limited mobility, and enables them to enjoy a rocking and rotating motion; it is also set at an appropriate height for wheelchair side transfer. Finally, our multisensory Sound Flower offers audio and visual stimulation, with internal ball bearings creating a sound effect when the unit is spun, and the centre of the flower incorporating a black spiral on a white background for a high contrast, optical illusion.

Swinging into Action

Of course, no playground visit is complete without a spell on the swings, and Ropner Park is now packed with engaging options in this regard. Our three-bay Modular Swing includes two Flat Seats for older users, a comfortable, body-hugging Cradle Seat for younger users, and our bright, inclusive Duo Pod seat, with two seats on a fixed frame allowing a pair of users to face each other as they swing. An open ‘Turtle’ nest seat also enables three to four users of all abilities to enjoy a fulfilling, exhilarating social experience.

Woodland Tower and Modular Swings with Turtle Shell Seat at Ropner Park

Elsewhere, our Sky Swing carousel features three single Pod Seats suspended from radial swing arms which rotate around a central pole, creating the perfect forum for airborne social interaction. Additionally, our Cobra Swing, with a chunky central rope seat, requires co-operation from up to six users to get moving, using balancing, swinging and rocking movements.

A fantastic selection of smaller, standalone items finish the new play area. Two dynamic spinners, in the form of our Hula Rotator and Curlicue, cater for children across the age range. The former, based around a suspended hoop, is useable by two children aged three to fourteen, and tests balance while spinning. The Curlicue, meanwhile, takes the form of a simple spiral, and can be used by one user aged five and upwards. Set at an angle, it utilises the user’s changing centre of gravity to propel them around.

Finally, two Springies further the nautical theme: our popular ‘Pablo the Penguin’ Springie Seesaw enables social play for users of all abilities, in the form of a friendly, colourful character, and its open access seats make it easier to mount. Likewise, our robust HPL ‘Wilbur Whale’ Springie displays another marine character with a tail, fin and cheeky grin, as well as foot and heel rails to guide the feet into the best position, and an open fronted design for easy access.

Exceeding Expectations

A representative from Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council said: ‘Working with Sutcliffe Play on this project delivered a fantastic new playground which the entire community now loves to visit. They were open and approachable, and worked effectively and collaboratively to get Ropner Park finished on time and to an excellent standard.’

Our work here has delivered a comprehensive, inclusive upgrade to this much-loved destination playground, with a particularly unique aesthetic which marks it out even amongst our other projects. We’re proud to have secured the future of this space for the generations to come, and added our own special chapter to the long and storied history of Ropner Park.

Playground Equipment:

Woodland Tower

Woodland

Inclusive Group Seesaw

Group Seesaw

Medical Activity Centre

Medical Activity Centre

Inclusive Wheelchair Roundabout

Inclusive Seated Wheelchair Roundabout

Inclusive Dish Roundabout

Inclusive Dish Roundabout

Sound Flower

Sound Flower

Modular Swing

Modular Swing Set

Duo Pod

Duo Pod Seat

Flat Seat

Large Flat Seat Black

Cradle Seat

Cradle Seat

Sky Swing

Sky Swing

Pod Seat

Pod Seat

Cobra Swing

Cobra Swing

Hula Rotator

Hula Rotator

Curlicue

Curlicue Spinner

 

 

Get in Touch

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Rope

Durable steel-cored rope is a hugely versatile material, which offers great utility as part of more challenging equipment, such as our climbing and balancing focused Mission and Neo ranges, whilst also being used to create the colour contrasting scramble nets found on a number of our inclusive-focused units.

The rope’s steel core offers great durability, allowing it to endure heavy sustained usage for long periods without requiring replacement. Not only does this minimise wastage, but at the point that replacement finally does become necessary, its environmental impact is mitigated by the fact that steel is one of the world’s most recyclable metals.

Prior to this, however, sustainability is also a key consideration for us during the initial stages of our equipment’s development. This is why we seek to deal with responsible suppliers at all times, and participate in a sustainable supply chain with environmental consideration at its heart.

Both of our wholesale suppliers of steel-cored rope hold all of the relevant credentials to operate in a modern, climate conscious marketplace, and both source their rope from a respected third-party enterprise which holds the ISO 14001. This internationally recognized standard demonstrates their commitment to minimizing their environmental impact, and continuously improving their performance in this area.

Our nets and ropes are covered by a 2-year warranty against non-structural failure due to faulty workmanship or materials.

Anti-Slip Surfacing

Many of our products, especially our multi-play units, are designed to enable fast, thrilling, kinetic play for all ages and abilities. This is why durable, hard-wearing anti-slip surfacing is another key material used in our factory, to deliver the safest, highest quality playing experience for children.

The two most commonly used materials in this regard are Hexastrong panels and WISA®-Multifloor panels. The former is found primarily on the walking decks and steps on many of our multi-play units, including in our MiniTown, Toddlerzone and Playzone ranges. With their hard-wearing nature and excellent strength to weight ratio, these panels are ideally suited for use on playground equipment, and as they are produced primarily from timber, they can be considered a renewable resource.

Durable WISA®-Multifloor panels are also utilised most prominently in our Toddlerzone and Playzone ranges. Constructed from birch veneers bonded together with weather-resistant glue and coated with an elastic overlay, they deliver a strong, safe surface on walking decks and steps, upon which children can play freely.

As with all materials involved in the manufacture of our products, we work hard to ensure we deal with responsible suppliers at every stage, and participate in a sustainable supply chain with environmental consideration at its heart:

Both of our Hexastrong suppliers are UK-based, reducing emissions from overseas freight, and the materials we source from both are FSC (Forest Stewardship Certification) approved, ensuring they are derived from well-managed forests and tracked throughout their manufacturing journey. Both suppliers also fully comply with the Timber and Timber Products Regulations (UKTR), which requires them to conduct all necessary due diligence on their supply chains, to ensure the materials they use have been legally sourced and traded.

One of our suppliers also utilises a Carbon Calculator, to inform every customer of the overall carbon footprint of their order, taking in manufacture, delivery of the product to the supplier’s warehouse, and storage, all the way up to the moment it leaves the supplier’s premises. This information allows us to easily understand the carbon impact of the Hexastrong panels we purchase, and assess the results accordingly.

Our supplier of WISA®-Multifloor panels, meanwhile, is based like us in West Yorkshire, again reducing freight emissions, and as with our Hexastrong supplier, is FSC (Forest Stewardship Certification) approved and fully complies with the Timber and Timber Products Regulations (UKTR).

Both our Hexastrong and Wisa®-Multifloor panels are covered by a 2-year warranty against material degradation.

Paint/Finishing

Although originating from our West Yorkshire factory, our equipment delivers fun across the country every day – and beneath the colourful surface, its fundamentals are high quality, durable, and sustainable.

When it comes to safeguarding our environment, however, we know the surface itself has a part to play, too. We utilise a range of different treatments and finishes, including galvanising, powder coating and zinc priming for mild steel, and anodising for aluminium. These processes provide the materials with the best chance of enduring heavy usage, whilst sealing the surface’s prime coating, and adding further durability through a UV stable colourfast finish.

The manner of application is also crucial with regards to sustainability. Our preferred method, electrostatic spraying, involves the use of a spray gun to powder coat the metal. This leads to an exceptionally even particle distribution when compared with traditional airless methods, which can result in significant overspray and insufficient coverage. The improved transfer then translates to reduced paint consumption, which in turn reduces waste, and saves on any cleaning agents required to remove excess.

Our UK-based supplier practices sustainable delivery methods, including utilising cardboard packaging in place of plastic, as well as biodegradable packing peanuts made from natural, nontoxic sources (such as wheat and corn starch) which can be used in compost piles after use. 

Our paint, anodising and galvanising are all covered by a 10-year warranty against significant corrosion due to faulty materials or finishing.

Rubber

With its inherent flexibility and array of bright colours, rubber is ideal for use in play equipment.

In our case, it is the main material used in many of our swing seats, whose design and production originally helped to make Sutcliffe Play a leading name in the playground market.

Rubber is derived from the sap of the rubber tree, which, when farmed responsibly, can be tapped for latex production over a period of many years before requiring replacement. Not only does this make the rubber itself a sustainable resource, it is also a great benefit for the wider ecosystem, as rubber trees have a significant capacity to absorb carbon dioxide.

Likewise, natural rubber is also extremely biodegradable, giving it a major advantage over plastic (which can take decades or even centuries to decompose); the higher the percentage of pure latex rubber in the compound, the faster it breaks down upon disposal.

Our north-west based supplier is a leading enterprise that operates a Sustainable Procurement Policy, which seeks to monitor and manage the business’s environmental impact, whilst ensuring social, environmental and economic factors are fully considered by employees and suppliers.

Our rubber is covered by a 2-year warranty against material degradation.

Aluminium

Sustainability and durability run through our equipment quite literally from top to bottom, as the supporting uprights on our popular Toddlerzone, Playzone, Neo and Mission ranges are constructed from high-quality, responsibly sourced aluminium.

Three of our four main aluminium suppliers are based locally in West Yorkshire, reducing freight emissions, and all seek to work within a sustainable supply chain, with one certified to the Environmental 14001 standard.

This highly durable material is the most recyclable metal in the world, and can be continually re-melted and refashioned into new products without losing its properties. This process also uses up to 95% less energy than the production of new aluminium from raw materials.

Its unique combination of versatile properties, including low weight, high strength, corrosion resistance and recyclability make it a perfect match for heavy usage playgrounds. Its hardened anodised finish is also maintenance free and requires no touch-up or finish during its life cycle, saving on wastage and the use of new top up materials.

Our aluminium is covered by a 25-year warranty against structural strength, and our anodising is covered by a 10-year warranty against significant corrosion due to faulty materials or finishing. 

Mild Steel

Mild steel is another essential material which is a perfect fit for our durable product range, used to create the supporting components of our multi play units, as well as rotators such as our inclusive dish roundabouts.

As with stainless steel, our supplier is an established enterprise in the local West Yorkshire area. Their mild steel includes an average of 76% recycled content, and is created from raw materials sourced from UK and Belgian foundries which are BES6001 certified. As of April 2023, their activity was estimated to produce 1.39 tonnes of carbon emissions per tonne of steel, well below one of the major estimated industry averages (1.85 tonnes), and on par with another (1.40).

This high-quality material is painted using a sustainable electrostatic process, and gains added protection through a UV stable colourfast finish. It has been proven to withstand not only the rigours of daily usage but the harshest of outdoor environments, including those with high salinity – this is well-evidenced by the fact that there has never been a customer claim against its structural guarantee.

Our mild steel is covered by a 25-year warranty against structural strength.

Stainless Steel

Another material that helps us to offer the most robust equipment on the market is stainless steel, used in the manufacture of our chute, bedway and bannister slides.

Our supplier is local, based like us in Yorkshire (reducing freight-based carbon emissions), and they utilise only materials from approved and highly reputable mills. They also work to ensure their supply chains are free from any unacceptable labour practices, are aligned to the UN 2040 Net Zero Target, and are beginning to roll out the use of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil to replace diesel at all of their service centres, leading to a reduction in carbon emissions and nitrogen oxide.

The stainless steel in our products is maintenance free, easy clean, and suitable for all environments. It conforms to EN10088 specifications, and it is austenitic – making it stronger, more durable, and less electrically and thermally conductive than carbon steel, as well having a greater corrosion resistance. This durable, robust composition greatly extends the material’s lifespan, deferring waste creation (and steel is already the most recycled material used in manufacturing overall, so is far less likely to create waste at all).

Our stainless steel is covered by a 25-year warranty against structural strength.

HPL

HPL is a high-performance, external grade, self-supporting laminate utilised in versatile ways throughout our product range, such as the colourful panelling on many of our multi-play units.

The two key components in its creation are paper (technically called cellulose fibres) and thermosetting resin, with the former representing 60-70% of the finished material.

Our supplier is an Environmental Management Systems ISO 14001:2015 certified business, which holds both of the voluntary ‘Chain of Custody’ certifications according to FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) and PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) schemes. These certifications guarantee that the final product is made of material from well-managed, FSC or PEFC-Certified forests, and other controlled sources.

No organic solvents, asbestos or heavy metals are used during HPL’s production cycle, and it doesn’t release any gases, vapours, solvents or fluids. Its processing waste can be handled in a manner equivalent to household waste at controlled landfills, and it is estimated that 80% of the waste generated by our supplier is recovered.

Once created, HPL’s standout durability (it is fire-retardant, scratch and shock resistant, and non-porous) ensures that it will resist a great deal of wear and tear, and endure for long periods before requiring replacement.

Our HPL panels are covered by a 10-year warranty against non-structural failure due to faulty workmanship or materials.

HDPE

HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene) is an extremely versatile thermoplastic polymer used in the freestanding play panels which feature in many of our play spaces, as well as for various components across our product range.

Offering an excellent strength-to-density ratio, and a very high impact resistance and melting point, products utilising HDPE are sure to enjoy a very long life.

The HDPE we purchase is sustainably sourced, and includes an average of 76% recycled content. Our supplier has also recycled 99% of their waste material and off-cuts since the formation of their business, and offers HDPE recycling services to customers for products which are no longer required.

Unlike natural, porous materials such as wood (which can feature fissures or grooves that harbour moisture or bacteria) HDPE resists mould and rotting as well as most strong mineral acids and naturally occurring chemicals. HDPE is also easily recyclable, helping to keep non-biodegradable waste out of landfill. 

Our freestanding play panels are also accompanied by a selection of sustainably sourced supporting posts, including recycled plastic, galvanised metal, and timber. As with HDPE, these enjoy a far longer lifespan due to their environmental resistance (with none of the rotting, cracking, or splitting that may come with traditional timber posts), and they also help to reduce non-biodegradable landfill waste.

Our HDPE is covered by a 10-year warranty against non-structural failure due to faulty workmanship or materials.

Glulam

Our Treetops multi-play equipment is well-known for its naturalistic aesthetic, with striking wooden support beams bringing an eye-catching look to the entire range.

These are constructed from Glued Laminated (Glulam) Larch, a structurally engineered wood comprised of layers of dimensioned lumber, bonded together with durable, moisture-resistant structural adhesives.

Our well-established supplier of Glulam is based very locally to our factory in West Yorkshire, reducing freight emissions – and as with all of our materials, Glulam’s great durability minimises waste and the need for replacement in the long term. Its design delivers greater dimensional stability than that of whole log sections, with no shakes, twisting or warping, and all Glulam beams within the Treetops range have an oblique cut top to prevent water ingress, as well as galvanized steel shoes to protect the base of each post from the elements.

As well as having no known negative environmental effects, repairability of Glulam is high, and once it reaches the end of its natural life, it can be repurposed as an excellent biofuel.

Our Glulam is covered by a 10-year warranty against structural strength.

Timber

Timber is an essential material in our work, used primarily in our naturalistic Orchard range – and we strive to ensure not only that it is sustainably sourced, but smartly applied to ensure maximum longevity.

Our FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified supplier handles slow grown pine logs derived from strictly controlled sources, either through government body approved felling licences or forest/woodland management plans. They also encourage the recycling of their products during manufacturing, with all wastage repurposed – including in a local biomass plant that produces electricity and heat.

The timber we purchase for use in our Orchard posts has been pressure treated against wet rot, dry rot and insect infestation, carried out after it has been cut and drilled (ensuring the coverage of all exposed timber). It has also been preservative pressure-treated with high-quality Tanalith 9000, which is proven at providing unrivalled protection.

A UK-sourced aluminium protective shoe maintains the timber above ground level, protecting the base of each post throughout its lifetime, and side ventilation holes allow the posts to breathe and stay dry. At the other end, a special rubber cap completely seals the post top, preventing moisture from entering the top grain.

Our Timber is covered by a 10-year warranty against structural strength.