Adventure awaits as much-loved community play park gets an upgrade

The brief

Situated on the edge of beautiful Dartmoor, Yelverton Play Park is a hugely popular community playground, funded by charitable donations and managed by a dedicated team of enthusiastic volunteers. Come rain or shine, the park is always busy. As well as being a lively community hub for local children and families, it draws visitors from the city and tourists visiting the national park. Due to it’s popularity, the play equipment has a busy life and the infant play area was in need of a refresh. All the new play equipment has to be extremely hard wearing and low-maintenance, as it is run by volunteers balancing their many other commitments with ensuring the park stays in tip-top condition.

The plan

The new play area was designed to provide a rich and exciting play experience for young children. The management committee was keen to use sustainable materials and opted for play equipment made from recycled plastic posts which do not rot or require preservatives. In keeping with a sustainable approach, the team refurbished a springer from the old park, giving it a new lease of life. A new curved play trail combining balance beams and stepping hops helps develop confidence and co-ordination. A twin tower play frame, complete with a bumpy bridge, provides a popular climbing challenge. A new roundabout and double swings deliver a dynamic thrill and a nest swing offers easy accessibility, as carers can sit alongside children. New fencing, seating and all-weather surfacing completes the new play area and will ensure Yelverton Play Park remains a hive of activity for years to come.

The result

The new play equipment has proved extremely popular and children are particularly delighted with the playful moving parts,like the noughts and crosses game and abacus rail. We have already been asked to deliver the next exciting phase in the enhancement of the play park, as funds have been secured to install new junior swings and an accessible roundabout, so watch this space.

Committee Chair Ric Cheadle is pleased that the infant play project ran so smoothly:

“The Committee worked closely with Proper Playgrounds on several designs before opting for the final scheme, as each piece of play equipment had to stand up to high levels of usage and deliver on both quality and fun. Proper Playgrounds had already installed play equipment in the nearby villages of Buckland Monachorum, Horrabridge and Crapstone, so it was good to be able to use a locally-based company that had an proven reputation for hard-wearing, eco-friendly playground equipment, perfectly designed to withstand our West Country weather!”