Amazon primed! Jungle fun zone wins your vote

Work on constructing the state-of-the art attraction is poised to get under way after the town hall’s Greenspace Team came up with two competing designs and asked local people to vote for their favourite.

It was a close contest but the winner was “Option One”, which will include rope bridges, slides and even a cuddly hippo emerging from a fake river at Ilkeston’s Wash Meadows – known locally as Johnny’s Park.

The brief to designers was to make the fun zone “innovative and exciting” – as well as accessible for children with disabilities.

Votes poured in from almost 800 residents – mainly online. The jungle-themed concept triumphed by a majority of just 45.

The new play area near Ilkeston’s Tesco superstore comes after Long Eaton last year got its own fun zone in the town’s West Park.

Construction using steel with 82 per cent recycled content is set to start before Christmas – meaning Ilkeston’s version will open in the New Year. It is thanks to the council securing Government money that has been allocated via the East Midlands Mayor. Erewash councillor Josy Hare, who is Lead Member for Health and Wellbeing, said: “We came up with two brilliant designs – and residents have picked the one they want to see built.

“Children in the borough will soon have yet another fantastic place to spend time having fun while keeping fit and active.”

The money for the project is not the only fresh Ilkeston boost from what is known as the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. New lighting is to be installed in the town’s Victoria Park so it can be used more after dusk – following a similar scheme in Long Eaton’s West Park. 

Ilkeston’s Rutland Sports Park is also getting new lights. The combined investment in both projects is £166,000.
 

Pictured: Revealed . . . how Ilkeston’s new play park will look after residents voted for jungle theme