On the slide, parents’ joy over playground
PARENTS say they’re ‘disappointed’ with the design for a new woodland play area at a park.
The M.E.N. revealed last year how the £500,000 Wild Woodland Play Space in Heaton Park was being planned, featuring everything from bridges and tunnels to a treetop nest.
With an emphasis on reconnecting children with nature through play, families were excited by the photos of an award-winning wild garden being used by landscape architects, Davies White, to inspire the space.
But an artist’s impression appeared on a sign at the park this week – and parents are not happy with the type of equipment it shows.
Many of them were already disappointed with the £250k refurbishment of the park’s northern play area – based around a giant tower slide with a UFO-theme – and questioned why the equipment was metal, which gets too hot in the summer, as opposed to a more child-friendly wood.
Now, having seen the new artist’s impression showing two large metal slides planned for the new south play area opening near the boating lake this spring, they are not impressed.
Leane Donoghue-Horrocks, mum to Olivia, four, and two-yearold James, said: “I thought it was supposed to be more natural.
“I was expecting fallen trees to climb on and toddlers won’t be able to go on those slides.” Dad Gareth Wright said: “Based on the designs we’ve seen so far, I’m really disappointed. The plan looks nothing like the wild woodland that was initially promised. We were looking forward to taking our toddler to play here in spring, but none of this looks suitable for him.”
But Manchester council is urging parents to be patient and says the artist’s impression shows one small aspect of the play area.
A council spokesman said: “As the text on the banner points out, the new woodland adventure play area will include slides, swings, ropes, tunnels, sand and water play elements – all in a woodland setting, as previously stated.
“We’re really excited about this project and would ask for patience while work continues.
“We’re confident that local children will love the final result.”