A new play area has opened in one of the most picturesque parts of South Lakeland.
The play park at Broadgate Meadow in Grasmere sits fringed by dramatic Lakeland landscapes and its opening is the culmination of many months of hard work by Grasmere Village Society, working in partnership with residents and South Lakeland District Council (SLDC) to raise the funding and design the playground.
A first phase of the park’s improvement came in 2018 with the installation of adult gym equipment, but the second phase new play area wasn’t without its challenges.
The playground work started in the Autumn 2019 but the work was hampered by exceptionally wet weather and it was decided to incorporate extra drainage to prevent problems in the future.
The drainage work planned for March this year was then delayed by the Covid-19 lockdown restrictions and was eventually carried out in late June, when contractors were able to safely get back on site and the play area installation was then completed.
The £99,000 project has been supported by SLDC working with Grasmere Village Society. SLDC also contributed £35,000 through its LIPs (Locally Important Projects) fund and play area budgets, while local district councillors Vicky Hughes and Malcolm Lamb contributed money from their councillor allowances.
Further financial support came from National Lottery Community Fund (£20,000) and Grasmere Village Society (£15,600), as well the Frieda Scott Trust, Hadfield Trust, Holehird Trust, Cumbria Community Foundation, Grasmere Garden Centre, Wordsworth Hotel, Police and Crime Commissioner Fund, John Taylor, Grasmere Sports Committee, the ‘Get Will Up a Hill’ fundraising campaign as well as crowd-funding.
A spokesperson for SLDC said: “It has been a long wait for the children but hopefully they will now have a great place to play that won’t have to be closed over winter due to being too wet and muddy to play.
“The play area is now open and lots of children are already enjoying the new facility. Two members of Grasmere Village Society, Dr Nick McCraith and Mary Bass, cut a ribbon to mark the opening this week, but we hope to have a further ‘official’ opening ceremony in the spring next year once Covid-19 restrictions allow to recognise the contribution of all the fundraisers.’’
