Diggers Ahoy! Cliff Walk Park Set To Receive Pirate-Themed Upgrades

A NEAR four-metre climbing frame called the ‘Crow’s Nest’ will form the centrepiece of a revamped Cliff Walk Play Area, as the Vale of Glamorgan Council begins a £100,000 pirate-themed improvement project. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The ‘nest’ will overlook a range of new installations at the Penarth park, with work set to be completed in time for the Easter ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

holidays. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Featuring an octopus seesaw, large ship play unit, two-bay swing, double somersault bars and stepping stones, among other features, the park is to boast an array of attributes catering for children of all abilities. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Inclusivity was a key feature when drawing up the plans for the park, with accessible surfacing to and around multifunctional play areas a chief asset. The products in the park are also said to be equipped with diverse play opportunities that can be accessed from all angles. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A wheelchair-accessible roundabout is now also set to be unveiled, an addition that was recently included in the Council’s renovation of Plassey Square. Anna Murphy, co-founder of Oshi’s World, a local charity that supports the families of children with disabilities and special needs, played a role in consulting the Council regarding the inclusion of the wheelchair-accessible roundabout. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Around £200,000 had been set aside by the Council’s Visible Service Reserve to enhance Cliff Walk and Cwrt Y Vil play areas, as well as Peterswell Road and St Lythan’s at Cwm Talwg. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Of this, £110,000 was set aside for Penarth’s Cliff Walk Park, whilst a further £4,000 has been contributed by the Council to add the wheelchair-accessible roundabout, which the contractor – Sunshine Playgrounds – has agreed to install, free-of-charge, as a gesture of good-will. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Deputy Leader of the Council, and Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Education, Councillor Lis Burnett, said: “The upgrade of seven parks and open spaces across Penarth has followed consultation with local residents over the last year, with both online surveys and drop-in sessions enabling the public to let us know what they would like included. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We were keen to ensure that children of all abilities were able to play together at Cliff Walk Park. I look forward to seeing them enjoy the exciting new features it has to offer in the very near-future.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The work to upgrade the park started on 06 February, and is expected to last between six and eight weeks, with the Council aiming to complete them before the Easter holidays. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​