Two More Penarth Parks Undergo Refurbishment

WORK to refurbish Penarth parks continues apace, with new-look play areas at Plassey Square and Cwrt Y Vil set to open in time for the Easter Holidays. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In total £600,000 has been set aside for improvements to North Penarth parks in a scheme that will also include upgrades to Paget Road play area, Cogan Recreation Ground skate park and Dingle Park. Additional work to renew the Cliff Walk play area is already underway. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Inclusivity has been a major factor in designing the new play areas, meaning they can also be enjoyed by children with a range of ability levels. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

At Plassey Square, the gates include a self-closing mechanism for ease of entry and exit and there are no major changes in levels inside the play area. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

While recommendations indicate a play area should include two pieces of inclusive equipment, there are eight at this location. These include a wheelchair-accessible roundabout, which has been added since the original design. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cwrt Y Vil Park will also include a wheelchair-accessible roundabout, as well as a flat seat swing and wide access gate, among other features. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Lis Burnett, Deputy Leader of the Vale of Glamorgan Council, and Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Education, said: “I’m delighted that work on these two play areas is nearing completion. Refurbishing parks and green spaces was a major ambition for this Council, with a total of seven in Penarth receiving such treatment. This is part of an ongoing programme of investment in such facilities across the Vale. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

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“Our aim is to provide modern, safe and exciting areas for children to enjoy. Play area designers considered a variety of issues when drawing-up their proposals, with inclusivity an important factor ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

. We have been keen to ensure that children of all abilities are able to play together in our parks. These upgrades are really exciting and we hope the improved play areas will prove to be a real asset to Penarth. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Everyone was really good. The house went up so quickly and within six months to the day we were back. We were in in
time for Christmas, which was just what we wanted.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​