£200k Lotto bid for new play area

1:32pm Tuesday 20th May 2008

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CHILDREN and young people in Dunnington could be set to get a new play area, adventure park and skateboard zone, thanks to a £200,000 Lottery grant.

The local parish council has tabled plans to build the new parks in Intake Avenue in the village, after research by a special committee, which included young people themselves.

Alf Deuchars, chairman of Dunnington Parish Council, said: "Today, we just have a toddlers' play area. There is nothing for the older children, from seven to 17. So an adventure park is something that the local population supports.

"It is all dependent on a Government grant, which is expected to be in the order of £200,000."

The grant that the parish council has applied for is from a £16 million Playful Ideas scheme, run by the Big Lottery Fund.

In Dunnington, it is intended that the toddlers' play area will move to the Millennium Garden, and the adventure park, including a skateboard park, will go where the toddlers' area currently is.

Coun Deuchars said the parish council had wanted to directly involve the people who would use the facilities, so youngsters were invited to take part in researching and developing the scheme.

He said: "The young people were part of a committee created in conjunction with the parish council, the playing fields association, and the school children, so it's all done with the involvement of residents and children who live in the area.

"They have done quite a lot of research for the project itself."

The young people also chose the equipment that will go in the adventure park, which will include a ropeway, skate ramps, climbing equipment, rope swings, and net bridges.

The play area for younger children includes swings, stepping stones, a wooden walkway, balancing beams, and a replica train.

Two separate planning applications, covering the two proposed play areas, have been submitted to City of York Council and are now being considered by the authority.

They can be viewed at www.york.gov.uk or at the council's offices in St Leonard's Place, York.