Our New Playground 2018
 
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NEWS AND EVENTS

 

 

Our New Playground

January/February 2018

 

In 2017 the Village started a project to raise money for a new playground to replace the existing facility which has seen much better days. Through a combination of grants from WREN, East Cambridgeshire District Council, Kompan and the Parish Council we have now reached our target and the playground is open!

WREN is a not-for-profit business that awards grants for community, biodiversity and heritage projects from funds donated by FCC Environment through the Landfill Communities Fund.

Our supplier Kompan have provided us with a bespoke design and are kindly providing 35% matched funding following our 2nd place in their ‘describe your dream playground’ competition. Kompan, has sustainability as one of its core principles, and provides long lasting quality and great value playground equipment for all ages and abilities

The new playground installation started on January 22nd, 2018. The playground is relocated to the side of the playing field to allow more space for a wider range of equipment. The playground includes equipment to suit a wide range of ages, including 2 different play towers, a zip-wire and fitness equipment.

Week one - 22nd January

The playground installation got underway with a pre-start meeting to go over the final plans. Then on Monday 22nd Kompan put up the safety fencing and delivered a container on site to hold the equipment.

On Thursday the equipment was delivered having come all the way from the Czech Republic. Kompan then cracked on with the installation. Holes have now been dug for many of the items.

The start and end point of the zip wire are upright.

The frame for the baby swings and the spica are in place.

And the fitness equipment is in situ too!

Unfortunately the area outside the old playground and leading down to the playing field is now very muddy so please take care and avoid if possible.

Week two - 29th January

Work has progressed swiftly with only a few bit still left to install. The two play towers were mostly assembled giving a good sense of what the finished playground will look like. Next week the various surfacing will be put in.

The junior play tower starting to take shape

The Triple Tower Turbo Challenge - almost finished

Line now strung on the zip wire - just waiting for the launching platform now

Fitness equipment - now with instructional signs

Mud continues to be a problem although Kompan have now put down some topsoil. They will also put down grass seed before they leave

Week three - 5th February

The team made rapid progress on the playground this week. With almost all the kit installed and the new fencing in place. The surface team has also been in to install the rubber mulch under the play towers but were thwarted by the bad weather. They should finish early next week. Grass matting also needs to be installed under the pieces of equipment.

Unfortunately the wrong top bar for the basket swing was delivered and getting a replacement is going to take some time. Kompan still think the playground will be finished by the end of the month at the latest.

Please do not be tempted to sneak in behind the safety fences. Kompan will leave the final fixing of things until immediately before the safety inspection. Once we are given the all clear the safety fencing will come down.

Many apologies for the mud. Hopefully once the building has finished this the grass will recover.

We are going to have a grand opening late morning on Saturday March 24th. Kompan will have some bits to give away. It would be great to have a good turnout so we can thank our funders for making this all possible!

Almost finished!

Triple tower with start of the surfacing

Junior Tower now with its smart panels

Zip wire complete with platform

Just missing this one piece!

 

Project Completion and the Grand Opening - Saturday March 24th 2018!

The playground construction finished right on schedule at the end of February. Despite the ‘Beast from the East’ arriving making life difficult for the install team. The local children were not to be put off by the snow and freezing temperatures and duly got stuck in straight away testing out the new park.

The Grand Opening took place March 24th. We had a fantastic turnout of people coming to celebrate the new facility and thank the funders. Cupcakes, popcorn and customised keyrings helped add to the festive feeling.

Kompan had a photographer and videographer on hand to record the event!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dHGxnRDiTQ4

Huge thanks to everyone that made the park possible, particularly the funders - Wren, Kompan, ECDC and the Parish Council. Many thanks to the Events Team for helping to organise the opening. We have a brilliant facility for the children (and children at heart) of Reach. The playground has quickly become a focal point for families in the village. We look forward to seeing what happens with the old playground development!

Cath Tayleur