NEW SWINGS, a splash pad, a new area for teenagers and a hamster wheel are featured in a wishlist of items Malvern residents would like to see in Priory Park’s soon to be revamped play area.
More than 400 people took part in a consultation on the future of play provision at the Malvern park.
Malvern Hills District Council has been allocated money from planning agreements – known as section 106 funding – to put towards a project to improve play provision in the park.
Residents and park users were asked to submit their views between April and May on improvements they would like to see to the existing play area as well as any other ideas they had.
Among those to take part was six-year-old Daniel Bradbury, from Wells Ward, who created his own mood board showing the pieces of equipment he would like to see installed in the park’s play area in the future.
Daniel said: “I come to the park with my mummy and daddy a lot. My favourite thing is the roundabout as I love going really fast on it. I think it would be great to have a giant hamster wheel in the park.”
Other feedback from the consultation included the need to make the existing play area bigger, the need for more seating and to install more challenging and exciting equipment.
More than 60 per cent of people also backed the idea of creating a separate area aimed at teenagers.
The results of the consultation will be used to develop design proposals which will be unveiled later in the year for further feedback.
Coun David Watkins, responsible for Healthier Communities on Malvern Hills District Council, said: “We had an amazing response to the consultation. There were some fantastic and creative ideas coming forward, including Daniel’s suggestion of a giant hamster wheel.
“We very much appreciate everyone taking the time to give their views and the feedback we have will be invaluable in helping us to design a scheme which delivers on what the users of the park want.
“I’m excited to see what designs are produced from this feedback and look forward to showing you all later in the year.”
The project is part of the council’s commitment in its new five year plan to enable investment of up to £10million in play areas and new open spaces by 2021.
