Refurbished play parks open ahead of summer

Three play parks in Derbyshire have reopened in time for summer after undergoing refurbishment work.

Amber Valley Borough Council said the parks in Heanor, Alfreton, Ripley and Belper had undergone improvement works "shaped by local people".

All the projects were funded through UK Shared Prosperity Funding provided by the East Midlands Combined County Authority.

The council said a few finishing touches were still to come, but the parks have been opened so "families can start enjoying the spaces rather than waiting any longer".

One of the four parks, in Northern Road Recreation Ground in Heanor, has opened fully.

The play area at Alfreton Welfare Recreation Ground has also opened, but is awaiting the seats of a spinning feature, to be installed.

In Ripley, the Charnwood Drive play area is partially open, with the aerial runway and basket swing to be built once the grass has had time to establish.

A fourth playground, at Acorn Recreation Ground in Belper, is soon to open, and has benefitted from a £37,000 contribution from Belper Town Council.

On top of the main refurbishments, new outdoor fitness equipment is now open at Oakhurst Close in Belper.

Sovereign Fields in Heanor has been brightened up with a repaint and new safety surfacing, and Belper River Gardens has new floor graphics to "enhance children's imaginative play".

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