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Park open for all ages Pupils cut ribbon to celebrate £320k redesign at Abbey Meadow
William Barton (Year 11 KIngfisher), Nelly Grindley (Year 7 Larkmead), Councillor Reg Waite, Leanne Beech (Year 8 John Mason) and Eve Barrett (Year 10 Fitzharrys) cut the ribbon to officially open the new play area
By Eva Astreinidou SCHOOLCHILDREN who helped design a £320,000 play park got the chance to celebrate their efforts last week. The Abbey Meadow play park in Abingdon opened to parents, children, and local politicians at a special ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday. The play park has been a long-running renovation project that invited
schoolchildren to get involved by offering tips for the park’s design. Pupils from Larkmead, Kingfisher, Fitzharrys and John Mason schools who took part in the project were there to mark the opening. Councillor Charlotte Dickson, cabinet member for leisure at Vale of White Horse District Council said: “We’ve already seen thousands of people come down to Abbey Meadow to enjoy the new play equipment and this is incredibly rewarding for everyone
who has been involved in the project.” The investment from Vale of White Horse has helped build an impressive Grand Abbey climbing area, an Abingdon Lock river scene, a sensory garden, an area for ball games, and traditional play equipment. Council leader Matthew Barber said: “While other councils are reducing the amount they spend on leisure and recreation we are providing significant investment. “The new site will really help to
position Abbey Meadow as a must visit free location for families from across Oxfordshire and the wider area.” Vale chairman Cllr Reg Waite said: “The park will help encourage people of all ages to keep fit.” Emma Partington, from Abingdon, who was there with her twin sons and daughter, said: “We can’t believe that our little Abingdon has got something like this now. To have something like this right on our doorstep is great.
“I already liked the park here but it was quite old – we did not expect something quite like this.” The play park has been designed by play equipment specialists Eibe. The site is part of a wider £615,000 investment that will fund new toilets, changing rooms, and a new accessible pathway. The Vale is also investing a further £1.3million to replace the outdoor pool. The new pool is expected to open in time for summer 2018.