New playground opens at Baggeridge Country Park

A new play area has officially opened at a Black Country park following months of renovation work.

Celebrations as the new play area officially opens. Back row, left to right: Steve Gallis from Baggeridge Country Park, Councillor Roger Lees, Councillor Marcia Sinclair from Himley Parish Council , Mark Jenkinson and Simon Nuttall from South Staffordshire Council and Paul Greenfield from Kompan.Front row, left to right: Councillor Len Bates BEM, Cabinet Member for Community Services, Councillor Yvonne Nock, Chair of Himley Parish Council, and Kath Williams, Chairman of South Staffordshire Council.

The children's play area at Baggeridge Country Park was officially opened two months after the ageing playground equipment was taken out.

Since the work began on June 1, the area was dug and new foundations laid with modern play equipment and protective padding laid.

The new area was designed by playground equipment suppliers KOMPAN and is contained within a fenced area to give children a safe place to play.

The play area was officially opened on Tuesday, August 4, with a new layout which includes a sandpit with swings and slides for younger children.

Older children will be able to play on a large climbing frame in the shape of a tower, with bridges and nets, zip wires, swings, slides and a carousal.

Younger children will be able to play in the sand and on the swings

Families using the park have also been reminded about Covid-19 guidelines, with a reminder to keep one metre distance and use hand sanitiser before and after entering the play area.

Additionally, each piece of equipment should be used by only one family at a time and anyone waiting should do so at a safe distance.

Councillor Len Bates BEM, cabinet member for community services at South Staffordshire Council, helped open the new play area and spoke about the benefits for younger people.

He said: "This fantastic new play area brings the joy of outdoor playing to our young Baggeridge visitors.

"Families now have access to an exciting play area that is designed to engage and develop children and support their health and wellbeing.

The new tower is set up for older children to play on

"The new layout is a significant improvement on the previous play area at the park with improvements in access for disabled users and, where possible, it has been constructed using organic, sustainable and recycled materials.

"I’m sure it will prove extremely popular with young people and families, but it’s important that everyone stays alert and continues to follow safe social distancing.

"They should also apply hand sanitiser before and after using any of the playground equipment.

"At busy times, there may be queues too so please be patient and enjoy using the play area safely and responsibly."

To find out more about the new play area and about the park, go to sstaffs.gov.uk/leisure/baggeridge-country-park.cfm