Council’s continued work to make play areas inclusive

Cheshire West and Chester Council has been working with PiPA PLAY (Plan Inclusive Play Areas), the social enterprise company created to ensure play areas are inclusive.

As part of this work, a selection of key Council-managed play areas have been reviewed to find out how best to improve inclusive play, together with assessing the suitability of the play areas for wheelchair swings.

The play areas reviewed were: Marbury Park (Northwich) Castle Park (Frodsham), Sandy Lane (Chester), Westminster Park (Chester), Grosvenor Park (Chester), Stanney Fields (Neston) and Whitby Park (Ellesmere Port).

PiPA has identified actions that could be implemented to improve inclusive play facilities at each of the locations which will feed into the emerging Council play improvement plan over the coming years.  A key recommendation from PiPA is that the play area at Marbury Park could be considered for a wheelchair swing.

The Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, Councillor Adam Langan said: “We’re delighted to be working with PiPA and this is very exciting news for Marbury Park. 

“Play is fundamental to every child’s development and by creating inclusive and accessible parks we can create an environment where children can play and grow together. All children and families deserve and have a right to access and enjoy their local park.

“Engagement will now take place with the community, as well as local ward members and partners, to obtain the needed funding for the wheelchair swing.  We will then work with PiPA to procure the project when all funding is in place.”

Further announcements will be made once funding is secured to deliver the wheelchair swing at Marbury Park and any future improvements at the other play areas as part of the Council’s emerging play improvement plan and Borough Play Strategy Review.

Becky Maddern from PiPA PLAY said “As a mum to a child with profound disability I have first-hand experience of what it feels like to see your child excluded from play parks. My son loves to be swung high on a swing and to go fast down a slide, however very few parks cater for his needs.

“I have been particularly impressed with Cheshire West and Chester Council with regards to their long-term play strategy. Change cannot happen overnight and the Council is committed to developing its play facilities in the future, which will have such a significant impact for so many families.”

This work will feed into the review of the current Borough Play Strategy (2020-2024), which is to be updated in 2024 and also any future plans for play area investment, including funding applications.