£70k boost
Big revamp plans for adventure park
AN adventure playground in Easton has secured five-figure funding for a major revamp which will include a rebuild of the main play structure.
Felix Road Adventure Playground will be investing £70,000 into the site in 2021, with funding coming from Garfield Weston, Bristol City Council CIL and the Clothmakers Guild.
The money will be used to build a sensory garden, a children’s allotment, an outdoor classroom, new walkways and towers, a new mural and a rebuild of the main play structure.
Improvements will also include building a big adventure playground swing and multiple platforms at the main play structure.
In January, they will be sharing the ideas proposed by Woodland Tribe with children and families at the playground and taking them on the journey to construct this new play landscape.
Stacy Yelland, CEO of Eastside Community Trust, said: “After a difficult year for everyone it feels really good to end it on a high note with our plans for improving the playground for children locally. Over the summer children shared their ideas about what they would like to see on the site and thanks to our generous funders this will be made possible in 2021.
“We can’t wait to get started.”
With all ideas so far being chosen by the children during the summer consultation, Felix Adventure Playground is also increasing the outdoor covered space to ensure they can operate safely under coronavirus restrictions while making sure they can reopen their kitchen and provide hot food daily.
The Easton adventure playground will also be widening the pavement outside the playground to stop pavement parking and improve access to the nursery and playground, making it safer for everyone.
They have also contracted adventure playground experts Woodland Tribe to work with them from January, involving children and parents in the design and build of the playground.
A spokesperson for Woodland Tribe said: “Our proposal for the sensory garden is based on an enhanced understanding of the concepts of inclusive play and accessible space.
“Our concept is a dramatic and exciting space that evokes family holidays, magical woodland and unique childhood memories. We see this area as a multi-sensory nurture space that can be used by children, families, staff and other agencies for a range of therapeutic practice.
“We want the garden to stimulate a range of senses including: touch, sight, sound, taste and smell but also feelings of tranquillity, safety and emotional resilience.”
Felix Road Adventure Playground has been run since 1972 by local people, offering a unique and playful space for approximately 900 children and families a year.
It operates with a strong valuesbased, child-led play work ethic providing a mix of targeted and universal children’s services, serving the community of Easton and Lawrence Hill, as well as communities of interest across the city.
Recently, the playground merged with Easton Community Centre and Up Our Street to form Eastside Community Trust.
In August, after three years of hard work by staff and trustees, they also opened their new community building on the site of the playground.
It was built from scratch, with the trustees and staff team working on all stages of the design and build to make sure it was in keeping with the playground and their values.
The building is made from timber frame and powered by solar and an air source heat pump. It has an outdoor area with a veranda and a storage space.
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After a difficult year for everyone it feels really good to end it on a high note
Stacy Yelland