New plans for park (From Swindon Advertiser)

New plans for park

3:05pm Friday 22nd June 2007 in News By Kevin Burchall

PLANS to transform a popular park have been submitted to Swindon Council.

Work has already begun at Penhill Park in Inglesham Road with an under-10s' play area and multi-use games area already in place.

But community workers are pressing on with proposals to make the park one of the best recreation areas in the town. A water play feature, an adventure play area and a youth shelter will all be added to the site if the application goes ahead.

But the project still needs the help of local residents if it is to be completed.

Marilyn Beale, secretary of the Penhill Forum, said: "We are trying to put back in the park that which was lost.

"In 2002 we had a community survey and what came out on top was things for the kids. Either the kids were a nuisance or there was nothing for them to do.

"So we came up with this grand plan for Penhill Park. We've already got the multi-use games area, which was paid for out of the ITV People's Millions. The other things that make up the plan include an adventure playground and a new water play park, while a new under-10s' play area has also recently been opened.

"But we can't deliver it just like that, people need to come forward."

The Twist Project committee is coordinating the development and the volunteers managed to get £50,000 from the ITV People's Millions and a further £20,000 from the Landfill Tax Credit scheme. Fundraising is ongoing, but the committee is keen to hear from anyone in the area who has expertise that would help put together the final pieces of the development project.

When completed, Marilyn says Penhill Park would be restored to its former glory.

She said: "There used to be a paddling pool and a café at the park and all the children of north Swindon would use it, but the café got burnt down about six or seven years ago and while they were waiting for the insurance money to come through some vandals broke up the paddling pool.

"We want to create something even better than the old paddling pool and we want to make it as entertaining for the kids as possible."

The under-10s' play area was opened last month by Swindon Mayor Michael Barnes. It boasts a spider climbing frame, which originally stood in the park in the late 1960s, and now stands in one corner of the bouncy surface area.