Dunvant set to see upgrades for two community play areas
Two play areas in a Swansea community are on course upgrade work to start in the coming weeks.
Dunvant Park is getting a makeover featuring multiplay units, disability-compliant swings and roundabouts, a trampoline and a new rubber safety surface while Dunvant Meadow is getting two new sets of double swings and a new surface too.
The projects are being paid for by Swansea Council's pioneering Economic Regeneration Fund that's already funded upgrades for nearly 50 play areas across the city in the last year, with more to come. Local ward members have also chipped-in with support from their community budgets.
The upgrades come after two more play areas were completed at West Cross and Pontarddulais alongside plans to begin work at seven other sites and proposals for 18 more in the pipeline.
Robert Francis-Davies, Cabinet Member for Investment, Regeneration and Tourism, said the work at Dunvant should be starting in the coming weeks and pledged that other locations around the city that needed upgrades too would get attention too.
He said: "Swansea is the only council in Wales that's pledged to upgrade every council-owned play area that needs it. We began the work in the wake of the pandemic and now, about a year, later 45 have been done with more coming in future months."
New or improved play areas feature equipment chosen in collaboration with local communities. Facilities can range from traditional swings, slides and roundabouts to trampolines, zip wires and climbing frames. Equipment has also been introduced for children with disabilities.
Andrew Stevens, Cabinet Member for Environment and Infrastructure, said: "The pandemic demonstrated just how important free outdoor play areas were for the wellbeing of our children and young people.
"During the crisis they became one of the few places where children could get their exercise safely and friends and families could see each other for a socially-distanced chat.
"So far we've committed £5m to our play area fund and communities from Craig Cefn Parc to Loughor and Melin Mynach have seen the benefits."
Those communities to have gained new or improved play areas already include Mayhill, Uplands, Llansamlet, Gorseinon, Golden Grove, Heol Frank, Ravenhill Park, Weig Fawr and Cwmbwrla Park.
To find out more go to: https://www.swansea.gov.uk/article/9312/A-new-generation-of-play-areas-for-our-children