Visible work has commenced on the construction of a new play park at Coate Water in Swindon this week.

Swindon Borough Council gave a £500,000 contract to play park specialist ESP Play Parks last year to build the new facility near the park’s accessible parking spaces.

Matty Courtliff, the council’s cabinet member for culture, heritage and leisure, said at the time: “Delivering a new play park at Coate Water has been one of my top priorities so it’s fantastic we can announce that work will start in a matter of weeks. It’s great news just before Christmas.

Swindon Advertiser: The project was sanctioned by Swindon Borough Council in 2022.The project was sanctioned by Swindon Borough Council in 2022. (Image: Dave Cox)

“We have been working closely with ESP who are experts in accessible play parks and I am delighted we have been able to incorporate a wheelchair accessible swing as that was something local group Mums on a Mission were keen to see included in the new park.

“This will be Swindon’s fully-accessible play park and, when it’s finished, every child in Swindon will have somewhere to play and express themselves, so I’m really excited to see the finished results in time for the warmer weather in Spring.”

Funding for the new play park has been secured from contributions from house builders, making it a real community interest project.

The new play park will feature flat paths as well as an inclusive wheelchair roundabout, ensuring the site will be fully accessible for users with disabilities.

In addition there will also be an inclusive multi-play seesaw, a larger multi-play unit as well as swings, in-ground trampolines, and slides.

Swindon Advertiser: The new play park is set to host as many as 100 children at any one time.The new play park is set to host as many as 100 children at any one time. (Image: Dave Cox)

A nine-platform multi-play unit will also be added to keep children entertained as well as an inclusive sandpit, sensory bells, and wind chimes, together with an inclusive spinning carousel.

It was announced in December of last year that the play park would open in the spring of 2023 and now that the new year has commenced, work has started on the site.

Diggers and workmen could be seen on Wednesday morning commencing construction in Coate Water.

This suggests that the team are on track for the prospective spring 2023 opening date, meaning that the local children will have a new area to explore in the warmer months.

It is said that up to 100 children will be able to use the park at any one time, from toddlers up to those aged 14.