New Clitheroe Play Park Leaves Youngsters Jumping for Joy
Clitheroe youngsters were ‘jumping for joy’ after the opening of a £300,000 play park.
Ribble Valley Mayor Jan Alcock cut the ribbon at the Edisford Bridge Play Park, which features 150 play experiences for youngsters aged two to 14.
The picturesque park, near the banks of the River Ribble, is part of a £750,000 Ribble Valley Borough Council scheme aimed at putting the borough’s 18 public play areas in the top league by 2027.
The play park was constructed from scratch at a disused pitch and putt site by Wicksteed, one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of outdoor play equipment, and pupils at nearby Edisford Primary School were ‘jumping for joy’ after putting it through its paces.
The park features age-specific zones linked by a central path and, along with a raft of accessible features for wheelchair and pushchair-users, includes a funky HMS Edisford play boat and a Pendle Hill Tower – a multi-level structure incorporating a fast slide, spiral tube slide, climbing nets, angled walls and suspended rope hammock, along with interactive woodland themed panels designed to promote physical activity, coordination and social interaction.
There is also a 20-metre zip wire, rock-scape and agility trail for older children.
The council’s play area cash boost is part of a £6.7million bonanza for sports, leisure and recreation facilities in the council’s most ambitious capital programme since it was formed in 1974.
As well as an upgrade to Ribblesdale Swimming Pool, a host of new features at Clitheroe Castle, including £550,000 of improvements to the castle keep, every one of the borough’s 18 council-owned play areas is receiving improvements and in some cases, such as Salthill in Clitheroe and John Smith’s in Longridge, a complete revamp, while a whole new play park has been built at Edisford.
Stuart Hirst, chairman of Ribble Valley Borough Council’s community services committee, said:
“Edisford is a popular visitor destination, attracting thousands of visitors a year to its many attractions, including a miniature railway and scenic riverside walks.
“We have exciting plans for the development of Edisford, starting with this standout play park, which generations of children and visitors will be able to enjoy for years to come.”
Wicksteed area sales manager Lewis Herridge said
“We are incredibly proud to have worked with Ribble Valley Borough Council to bring this fantastic new play park to life.
“It has been a brilliant project to be part of and we hope it brings fun, adventure and lasting memories to local children and families for many years to come.”
Edisford Primary School teachers Chelsey McManus and Georgina Whiston added:
“We were thrilled to be invited to the official opening of the Edisford Play Park – our pupils had a brilliant time and were jumping for joy all the way back to class!”