Families can enjoy a newly refurbished toddler play area at Whitaker Park after a £143,000 improvement scheme.
The play area reopened to the public on Monday 10th August with new equipment and surfacing for children aged between two and eight.
New features include a large play unit with a tube slide, an inclusive roundabout with wheelchair access, accessible picnic benches, interactive play panels and a Wee-Hopper which rotates and bounces.
Children can enjoy an inclusive spinning bowl, a train and ticket office, and a new spring rider. The existing swings have been repainted and fitted with new seats, while the toddler play unit and tunnel have been fully refurbished.
The whole area has been resurfaced using bonded rubber mulch, creating a safer and more welcoming space for younger children. A rotting timber retaining fence has also been replace with a more durable composite alternative to help prevent similar issues in the future.
The project was identified as a priority by local families and forms the latest stage of the Whitaker Park Masterplan. It brings the toddler area up to the same standard as the popular junior play area completed last year.
With both play areas now refurbished, Whitaker Park offers modern play facilities for children of different ages in one of Rawtenstall’s most popular public spaces.
Councillor Adrian Lythgoe, Lead Member for Environment at Rossendale Borough Council, said: “We’re delighted that the newly refurbished toddler play area is now open and ready for families to enjoy.”
“We appreciate that families have been looking forward to using the new facilities. Although the reopening took a little longer than originally planned, it was important that the issues with the surfacing were fully resolved and that the play area met the standards we expect before opening.”
“The finished area looks fantastic and provides a safe, welcoming and enjoyable space for younger children. Together with the junior play area, it represents a major improvement to the facilities available at Whitaker Park.”
The toddler play area is now fully open to the public.