£305,000 play area improvements

THREE play areas in Warrington are being improved and will be designed on a riverside, carnival and farmyard theme.
The sites in Howley are to be refurbished to offer improved facilities and opportunities for play and social gathering for local children and their families.
Work on the £305,000 project, in Parr Street, Harbord Street and Howley Park, is due to be completed by the end of September.
During the early stages of the project parents and children were consulted to find out what they thought about the play areas and what facilities they would like there.
New and innovative versions of old favourites such as swings, roundabouts, mobiles, see-saws and slides, as well as modern, challenging modular play units will be installed. Additionally, at Howley Park, there will be a children’s fun run, fitness trail and an unusual yo-yo swing.
Parr Street will be constructed with a riverside theme, Harbord Street like a farmyard and Howley Park themed as a carnival.
A gathering attended by residents, councillors and representatives of environmental charity WREN, one of the funders, was held at Howley Park to mark the start of the work. An official launch event involving the local community is planned on completion of the work.
Coun Paul Kenny said: “Thanks to the hard work of local people and the support of the council and WREN, the local community can celebrate the start of work to transform these three sites in the Howley area.
“Play is vital to a child’s development and the investment now being realised will not just benefit today’s young people but a generation of children to come.”
Richard Smith, project manager for WREN, said: “Soon the community in Howley will have top class play facilities and I hope they are enjoyed by a great many young people for years to come.”
Picture: Coun Paul Kenny (in the digger), Coun John Joyce, Peter Cox, managing director of WREN, Margaret Dolan of the Howley Residents Association and local residents at the celebration.