Children’s play areas across Erewash are set to benefit from almost £2 million of investment, with 13 sites due to receive new equipment and improvements over the coming year.
The programme, funded through Erewash Borough Council’s £6.5 million Erewash Investment Fund, includes four schemes in the Ilkeston area, with work at two of them expected to begin shortly.
The plans were discussed at last week’s Full Council meeting, where councillors debated the rollout of the programme and timings.
Work to begin at Victoria Park and Windsor Crescent
According to the council, work to fully replace play equipment is due to start imminently at:
- Victoria Park, Ilkeston
- Windsor Crescent Playing Fields, Kirk Hallam
Exact start dates have not yet been confirmed.
The Windsor Crescent project will become the new £400,000 Fort Elka-themed play area, first announced by the council last year.
A further 11 playgrounds are expected to be upgraded from spring next year, with the programme due to be completed by summer 2027.
Building on recent investment
The latest programme follows other recent investment in parks across the Ilkeston area, although those projects were funded separately through Government grants.
In March, the new Wash Meadows Play Area, known to many local residents as Johnny’s Park, opened following a £160,000 Government-funded redevelopment through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The play area was officially opened by the Deputy Mayor during a ceremony in July.
Meanwhile, Victoria Park and Rutland Sports Park have also benefited from a separate £166,000 Government-funded lighting scheme, which introduced new heritage-style lighting to improve safety and encourage greater use of the parks after dark.
The latest investment is separate from those projects and focuses on replacing play equipment and improving children’s play facilities.
Full list of improvements
Play equipment replacement due to begin first
- Victoria Park, Ilkeston
- Windsor Crescent Playing Fields, Kirk Hallam (£400,000 Fort Elka-themed play area)
Full replacement of play equipment
- Harrington Play Area, Long Eaton
- St Giles Park, Sandiacre
- Shaw Street East, Ilkeston
- Chaucer Park, Ilkeston
- Brook Road, Borrowash
- Deans Drive, Borrowash
- Grange Park, Long Eaton
- Norfolk Road, Long Eaton
- Cobden Street, Long Eaton
- Sawley New Park, Sawley
Other improvements
- Sawley Park – replacement safety surfacing and new fencing.
The council says the sites were selected because they were considered the play areas most in need of refurbishment.
For families across Erewash, the programme represents one of the borough’s biggest investments in children’s play facilities in recent years.
Is your local play area on the list? Let us know what you think in the comments below.
2 Comments
Inglefield road park needs a serious update
Cotmanhay park on beauvale needs upgrading