Adventure playground reopens as part of £1.4million investment.

 

Watford Council were delighted to open the brand new Harebreaks Adventurous Playground after the closure of run down but supervised site.

 

The first of two adventurous playgrounds was transformed after a £1.4million investment by Watford Borough Council was opened on Monday 20 February to children in the area.

 

The playground is now home to a large 22-metre-long tower that stretches more than 12 metres into the air. Young people from the age of 5 years are welcome to use the facility.

Now kids can scramble up a climbing wall and across a bridge to reach the tower before climbing up to a fast straight slide and a steep twirly one.

There is also a mid-air netted area for them to have a rest or scramble across to get higher up the structure.

 

Welcome to our brand new, state-of-the-art Harebreaks Adventurous Playground: https://t.co/yrYRrLVexi pic.twitter.com/yIVxxKGEzB

— Watford Council (@WatfordCouncil) February 20, 2017

Around 50 children from nearby Beechfield Primary School tried out the new equipment and found it challenging and fun.

Alisha Thorpe, aged 10, said: “I think it’s amazing and I love the curly slide especially. It goes around and around and it’s really fast.”

 

But one mum says "Shame my son can't play" as no rides are wheelchair accessible, and not fully inclusive to all children. She says her 9yr old daughter will be excited about it, until she learns there is nothing for her brother.

 

 

Cllr Karen Collett, Portfolio Holder for Community, said: “We have delivered this adventurous playground on budget and ahead of time, and it will be open 365 days a year for young people to enjoy. We have designed it to fit in perfectly with its natural woodland surroundings. This is something that 5 to 15-year-olds will be able to enjoy, and we are glad the first children to use it loved it so much. We can’t wait for our new Harwoods Adventure Playground to reopen in May.”

 

Elected Mayor of Watford Dorothy Thornhill said: “We are committed to providing exciting, imaginative and fun play activities for children, families and young people in Watford. The new adventurous playgrounds will be supported by free Easter and summer holiday activities for young people that we’re rolling out across Watford. We’re also expanding our programme of free events at Watford Museum and Cassiobury Park, so now is a great time to be young in Watford.”