Adventure ground plan for park – but you’ll pay to use it
£790,000 zone promises high-wire thrills
A £790,000 adventure playground featuring high wires and a climbing wall could be installed in Mote Park.
Maidstone council wants to see the pay-per-use playground, called Adventure Zone, constructed in the park and is behind the plans. The playground could open in July.
It would also include an adventure golf course.
A planning application was submitted by Dawn Hudd, the authority’s head of commercial and economic development.
This department is responsible for economic development, regeneration, cultural and leisure services.
The earmarked area is near the overflow car park at the Mote Road entrance where there is now a playground, skate park and climbing wall, all of which are free to use.
The proposed seven-hectare adventure park would be locked out of hours, and there would be a ticket kiosk for people to pay to play.
Maidstone council is now running a tender exercise to award a contract for the development of the new zone. The contract would include other projects including improving the overflow car parking and the current play area.
In a letter to the council, Simon Ginnaw, chairman of the Mote Park Fellowship, said: “Our primary concern, regarding the playground and skate park, is all existing free facilities should be replaced by equivalent or enhanced ones.
“Existing users of the park should not be adversely affected by the introduction of the new paid-for Adventure Zone.”
Some young people who use the skate park have expressed concerns it will be removed and not replaced.
The design and access statement reveals the council surveyed park users in December 2014 and the results were used to form the current plans.
Cllr Simon Ells, (Ukip) who represents Shepway North, said: The size of the park and the location of the playground mean it [adventure zone] will not detract from the enjoyment of others who want to walk their dogs or jog or just quietly enjoy the scenery.
“This is just one of the improvements which will include a new cafe, toilets, better access and improved landscaping.”
Maidstone council has not yet said how much people would be charged to use the Adventure Zone.