A £4 million project to bring 28 new play spaces to Knowsley celebrates a major landmark next week.
Local children and dignitaries will attend the official opening of Knowsley Council’s first Play Pathfinder play space at Henley Park, Whiston at 10.30am on Monday, 30 March.
The opening is the culmination of the year-long government-funded programme to create 13 exciting and dynamic new play spaces for young people aged eight to 13 across the Borough. A further 15 sites will be created in the coming year.
The Knowsley Play Pathfinder programme is the first Wave 1 scheme on Merseyside – and one of only two across the North West. The Council has worked with local organisations, including Knowsley Housing Trust, to boost available funding.
The event will also see the launch of Knowsley’s Play Pathfinder Hit Squad – a group of eight local young people specially created to ‘taste test’ all the new play spaces. The eight-strong team will award each site a fun and challenge rating.
The creation of the ‘Hit squad’ builds on the extensive consultation with schools and community groups undertaken by the Council over the past year.
Local schoolgirl Jessica Fairclough 12, will join Knowsley Council Mayor Cllr Michael Foulkes and Council Leader Cllr Ron Round to officially open Henley Park. Jessica, who won a competition for schools involved in the consultation programme, will slide through a banner to declare the site open.
Leader of Knowsley Council Cllr Ron Round said: “These play spaces will provide the latest in outdoor, adventurous, natural play.
“Henley Park has already been attracting hundreds of children and families since its installation - evidence that this is a much-needed facility, and the Council and Town Council have delivered successfully on our promises.”
Cllr Eddie Connor, Knowsley Council’s Cabinet Member for Leisure Community and Culture added: “Active and healthy lifestyles are so important for children and families and this funding will help us to improve further our services to them.
“Knowsley Council is committed to providing world class play facilities to compliment the world class learning centres across our community. Our residents and young people expect – and deserve - no less.”
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