Pupils Choose Their Play Areas

Summertime fun will be the order of the day when three exciting new play areas open in Ilkeston and Kirk Hallam – with the fun play areas all based on designs chosen by local schoolchildren.

Work is already underway on installing equipment at Wyndale Drive in Kirk Hallam and work is due to start at Godfrey Drive in Kirk Hallam and the Manners Play Area in Ilkeston over the next couple of weeks.

Fun play equipment, aimed at children up to the age of 12, will feature in the finished areas – including traditional favourites like slides, swings and roundabouts through to ‘glow worm’ see-saws and a ‘crazy twister’.

Pupils at Ilkeston’s Granby Junior School and Ladywood Primary School in Kirk Hallam were all given a choice of designs and voted on their favourite play set-up – with the winning designs now being driven forward by Erewash Borough Council.

Equipment at the three play areas will be installed by specialist companies and it is hoped that, weather permitting, work will be finished by mid-August.

Councillor Mike Wallis, Erewash Borough Council’s Lead Member for Culture and Leisure, said: “These play areas will be wonderful for children in those Ilkeston and Kirk Hallam areas and I look forward to seeing the three parks completed and up and running this summer.

“My thanks also go to the schoolchildren who so enthusiastically voted for their favourite designs – it is so important to listen to what they want for their play areas. I’m sure everyone – both the children and the parents – will be delighted with the results.”

Children will be able to use the play areas as soon as work is completed, but a formal opening ceremony will be held at the three sites in September, when the pupils from Granby Junior School and Ladywood Primary School will be special guests.

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