New ‘adventure play area’ for Coombe Abbey
A MAJOR new ‘adventure play experience’ is being planned at Coombe Abbey as part of a £800,000 revamp by Coventry City Council.
Plans for an “exciting and challenging” course have been proposed to update the existing “outdated” Climbing Forest near Top Pool Lodge.
It is intended for the play area to be a ‘pay-to-play’ facility, costing £2 per session and £5 for a family ticket of up to four children.
The authority is also proposing to update an existing play area adjacent to the visitor’s centre - with the two revamps costing £650,000.
An additional £150,000 would then be spent on creating an extra 300 spaces in the car park to help cope with expected demand.
Ahead of a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, November 19, where plans are expected to be given approval, Graham Hood, head of streetpride and greenspace, said: “There is a clear vision for the park supported by the Green Space Strategy to be a destination of choice for the people of Coventry, Warwickshire and beyond when seeking exciting yet affordable outdoor leisure activities.
“The play provision at the park is now out-dated and in continuous decline despite the maintenance programmes.
“Local competitor visitor attractions are offering a better play experience, which could in time undermine Coombe Abbey Park visitor numbers.
“The proposed new facilities at the visitor centre and in the forest would be of a distinct, bespoke, themed and unique design and offer a real step change in children’s play provision.
“The unique and attractive design will offer an exciting and challenging play environment, purposefully designed to provide those play opportunities and wide range of play experiences so important in a child’s development.”
The pay-and-play area is hoped to complement the existing Go Ape adventure facility launched in April this year. Designs would be drawn up early next year, if approved, but a CGI released ahead of next week’s cabinet meeting shows it would be a tree-top wooded facility.
The design would “fit naturally and sensitively into the park”, the council has said, making use of natural elements and the environment.
It would also be accessible children of different ages and abilities, as well as disabled children.
Around 100,000 children a year are expected to visit the pay-to-play facility, generating an annual income of around £132,800.
Increased footfall to the park is predicted to generation a further £41,600 per year in income to the car park.
Funding would be provided from capital investment and paid back over a period of 20 years for the play areas and 10 years for the car park.
However, the business case projects a surplus of around £100k from year three of operation that the council says could contribute to its medium-term financial strategy.
If approved by cabinet, and subject to planning consent being obtained from Rugby Borough Council, it is proposed to have the new facilities operational by the summer of 2021.