YEOVIL NEWS: New play area is formally opened

A NEW play area in Yeovil – costing nearly £115,000 - has been given an official opening and received a big thumbs-up from users.

Young people were flying down a 30-metre zip line and clambering over South Somerset’s first explorer dome climbing frame when the King Arthur Drive play area was formally opened earlier this month.

The opening ceremony was the culmination of a two-year project which has been led by South Somerset District Council, Brympton Parish Council, Knightstone Housing Association, the local Police Community Support Officer and Yarlington Housing Group.

This project group has worked closely with the local community over the last two years in a number of ways including workshops with students at Preston School, household surveys and on site events.

Local residents recently showed just how much they care about their new space when they turned out in force to plant 300 trees in a tree planting event.

They have also contributed to the project through donating bird boxes and taking part in a mosaic art project.

Senior play and youth facilities officer at the district council, Rob Parr, said: “With the support of the local community and organisations this new play space for the north of Yeovil now offers an amazing place for play and recreation for many generations to come.

“We have been fortunate to have existing woodland to work with and I hope the new facility makes the most of this natural resource. Early feedback from people using the play area has been really positive and with the summer approaching I hope it gets really well used and people have loads of fun and enjoyment from it.”

PHOTO - RIGHT: Senior play and youth facilities officer at the district council, Rob Parr.

The new play area has been designed to fit in around the many trees that make up this small woodland area and the play area has been enlarged to make the most of the sites interesting landscape. The design provides many different play opportunities for all ages and it even includes play equipment unique to South Somerset.

The £114,723 project budget was made up of the following: £20,000 South Somerset District Council; £3,000 Brympton Parish Council; £14,300 Knightstone Housing Association; £77,423 Section 106 Developer Contributions.

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