High ropes course thrown last-minute lifeline as new operator climbs on board
PARK ATTRACTION CLOSED SINCE LOCKDOWN IS SAVED FROM BEING DISMANTLED
AT the 11th hour – just as the equipment was due to be dismantled – a new operator has been found to run the high ropes course at Markeaton Park.
Now, instead of removing the attraction, work is under way to renovate the facility, with part of it due to reopen to the public later this month.
Tree House Trek has signed an agreement with Derby City Council to run the former Skyline attraction, which has been closed since the Covid pandemic.
The council had explored a number of options in an effort to bring the course back into use, but difficulty in identifying a new operator and the high cost of repairing the equipment meant this had seemed impossible.
In January, it was decided the ropes course was to be dismantled and removed from the park. However, Ali Glendinning, director of Belper-based High Low Ropes Course Consulting, saw a future for the facility and approached the council about taking it on.
Ali has 22 years’ experience in the high ropes industry. He has set up a separate company, Tree House Trek, which will operate the Markeaton Park attraction. Renovation work at the site began last week. The course will be reopened in two phases, with the first phase due to welcome visitors by the end of May, in time for the half-term school holiday.
Ali said: “When we heard the course was going to be taken down, we thought it would be a real shame.
“We thought we could create something for the public to enjoy and we plan to make the course more fun and engaging.
“Phase one will be to rejuvenate the existing course, changing some of the elements to make it more user friendly.
“Phase two, which will be completed by the summer holidays, will be to build a brand-new section on the existing site.
“We’re really excited to be able to bring the ropes course back into use and we hope people enjoy using it.”
The high ropes course was originally built in 2015 as part of a £3.5million revamp of the park.
In 2017, the structure was subject to vandalism and remained closed for more than a year after the zip wire was damaged by vandals who broke into the site overnight. It was reopened again in October 2019 – some 15 months after the initial closure - and remained open until the Covid-19 pandemic in March, 2020.
The high ropes did not open again following the pandemic – and the lockdowns which ensued – and have been left redundant for nearly four years.
Councillor Hardyal Dhindsa, city council cabinet member for communities and Streetpride, said: “Dismantling the high ropes course wasn’t what we wanted for the park, so we were thrilled when Ali contacted us with a proposal to rejuvenate the facility.
“It’s great to be working with a local company to bring new life to what has proved such a popular attraction in the past. I’m excited to see how the renovations develop over the coming weeks.”