Playtime arrives at
Higginson Park, Marlow!
HAGS have completed the play area at Higginson Park and the opening ceremony was held on Tuesday 24 October. In excess of 500 local residents joined the celebrations as the Chairman of Wycombe District Council, Councillor Jean Teesdale, cut the ribbon signalling the start of play time.
The replacement of the 20 year old play area has taken six weeks and marks the completion of the first phase of the Higginson Park enhancement project. This £750,000 project, funded by Wycombe District Council, will alleviate the erosion to the Green Flag award winning riverside park caused by nearly one million park visitors every year.
Councillor David Carroll, Cabinet Member for Community commented: "Higginson Park welcomes around 100,000 children every year and it is great to be able to start the park enhancement project by improving the facilities specifically on offer for them. We hope that this new design will meet the physical, mental and social needs of our younger visitors and that the huge range of activities available will also help to reduce queuing time during busy periods."
The winning play area design was submitted by Hags Play Ltd, an international company with a UK base in Dorset, who are also installing the equipment. The equipment is designed to be used by children of all abilities from toddlers to 14 year olds, with features including a full colour rubber safer surfacing design across the play area with fun motifs and graphics throughout, a bespoke "Marlow" bridge to climb across, two riverboats to crew including one large ship that will be the first of its design seen in the UK, a "spire" climbing net and a full range of swings, slides, spinners, climbers, balancers, springers and play houses. There will also be a special toddler area with learning through play and social interaction features.
Other improvements to the park will include new footpaths, tree and shrub planting as well as the construction of a single structure to house the café and toilets under one roof.
