Play area being added to city centre square
£47,000 SCHEME INCLUDES SLIDE, SEESAW AND ROUNDABOUT
A £47,000 children’s play area is being built in Leicester city centre.
Workers are installing equipment designed with younger visitors aged three to eight in mind, on a corner of Jubilee Square near Wygston’s House.
It will feature a balance trail, seesaw, bowl roundabout and a small slide and should be open by the middle of next month
City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said: “We want to enhance the opportunities for children’s play across the city centre, building on the investment we’ve made in recent years to create people-friendly streets and spaces.
“This latest project will help turn a relatively small part of Jubilee Square into an attractive play area that families with young children can enjoy together.
“I am sure it will be a welcome addition to this popular part of the city centre.”
Hannah Scotten, 29, who has children aged five and seven, said: “They have lots of things for kids on in Jubilee Square so it makes sense to have a play area for them.
“There’s not another one anywhere within walking distance that I know of and loads of kids will use this.”
Dad-of-three Alim Chohan, 35, said: “It’s a great idea but it is right next to a very busy road.
“It might have been better to have put it on the other side of the square, a bit further away. It’s just a little bit too close for comfort.”
The play area is by St Nicholas’s Circle but is separated from the road by bus stops.
The project is being funded from Leicester City Council’s capital programme and will be the first phase of investment in city centre play equipment.
Other planned schemes include a children’s play bus close to Haymarket bus station and a balance trail in Gallowtree Gate.