Playgrounds

Improvement programme
Ealing Council's Parks Countryside and Events Service is committed to creating and improving several playgrounds within the borough as part of a £2.5 million programme of investment over three years. The programme started in 2003 and will finish this year (2007).  A further £700k of investment is committed from 2007-2009.

In 2002 a survey and consultation was carried out (as part of a strategy for Ealing's parks and open spaces), which found that playgrounds were the single biggest asset to parks within the borough. As a result, play provision was recognised as one of the main priorities of the strategy.

Recently developed play areas within Ealing

Islip Manor Park refurbished ‘play space’ - Winter 2007/2008
Ealing Council has spent £100k improving and relocating the play area at Islip Manor Park.  £45k of funding was secured from the Big Lottery Fund to contribute to this project. The new playground includes futuristic style play equipment suitable for all age groups and abilities with colourful safety surfacing depicting a ‘stars and planets’ theme chosen by local school children. The play area also has boulder ‘asteroids’, craters and grassy mounds to climb and balance on. Colourful planting and a separate agility trail complete the scheme that is located close to the play centre and easily reached from Eastcote Road.

Hanger Hill Park refurbished ‘play space’  – Spring 2008
During spring 2008 Ealing Council spent £80k improving the play area at Hanger Hill Park. The play space has been reorganised and enlarged to create a more interesting and inspiring area for children of all ages to enjoy.  Planting, boulders, grass mounding and natural play features were all incorporated into the refurbished design.

Wesley Playing Fields refurbished ‘play space’  – Summer 2008
Ealing Council has upgraded the existing play space by extending the existing play area and providing more play facilities for children and young people to use.  £40k of this project is funded from the Big Lottery Fund.

Based on the results from the questionnaire the plan for the play area was finalised to include:

Midland Terrace refurbished ‘play space’  – Summer 2008
This small play area has been upgraded to provide a greater range of activities. Some of the existing equipment has been repositioned, a new multiplay unit, timber balance trail and stepping stones installed and new safety surfacing laid to create a trail of activities around the site.

The Green, East Acton,  – Summer 2008
The grass football pitch area was converted to a synthetic grass surface for children and young people to enjoy an all weather surface.  The existing goal ends were kept.

 

Upcoming play areas for improvement

King Georges V Field, Hanwell –Playful Ideas
Ealing Council are working with Groundwork on the redevelopment of the playground at King George’s Field (Hanwell).  A for £246k bid to the Big Lottery ‘Playful Ideas’ fund, to create a natural play space was successful in 2008.  We will try to get more funding to carry out the play area to meet our full design aspirations.

Concept Plan of King Georges V Field play area  (pdf)

Woodend East refurbished play space  – winter 2008/09
Ealing Council has £80k of funding available to improve the range of play opportunities at this green and tranquil site in North Greenford. Public consultation ran throughout August 2008 to get resident’s interest in a range of improvements including new items of play equipment, natural play (logs, boulders), timber agility equipment, realigning the existing fence, hoggin (compacted gravel) paths for riding trikes and bikes and improved footpath links between the park gates and the play area.

Greenford Recreation Ground refurbished play space  – winter 2008/09
Ealing Council plans to spend £80k improving the play area at Greenford Recreation Ground. The park and central play space shall benefit from reorganisation and play enhancements offering more innovative play for children of all ages.  The pedestrian path is located through the middle of the play area and it is proposed that this be realigned adjacent to the refurbished play area.

Have your say by filling out the questionnaire. Closing date is 26 September 2008.

Lower Thrifts (Horsenden Hill) refurbished play space  – winter 2008/09
Lower Thrifts is located in a rural part of the borough so we are proposing to install new play equipment made from timber in the refurbished play area.  The total budget for the refurbishment is £80k.

Have your say by filling out the questionnaire. Closing date is 19 September 2008.

Lammas Park natural play space  – winter 2008/09
Ealing has secured £20k Big Lottery Fund money to develop natural play opportunities within the existing educational nature area behind Lammas Park Play Centre. Public consultation was carried out between November 2007 and February 2008 and play centre users and local residents chose a range of improvements based on a phased development plan for the site. The Big Lottery Fund money is being used to carry out the first phase of these improvements in late summer and throughout Autumn 2008.

Phase one works include: 

Concept design for Lammas Park nature area (pdf)

Play spaces improved since 2003
Playground sites that have undergone revitalisation and improvements as part of the investment programme are: