Wakefield Road Recreation Ground

About the site

Wakefield Road Recreation Ground is in the Dewsbury East Ward of Kirklees. Kirklees Council has funding to improve the open space and play area at Wakefield Road Recreation Ground. Initial proposals have been put together in conjunction with your local councillors. The new design aims to make the play provision more appealing and accessible to all age groups by using a variety of play equipment types and features.

Project overview

Play in the outdoors has the potential to have a large and important role in a child's physical, social and cognitive development, it is also not reserved solely for children and young people-it should be encouraged at all stages of life -with many additional benefits experienced by individuals and communities. We aim to make the site & play provision more appealing, and accessible to all age groups, by incorporating natural play with traditional play equipment. Ensuring that our communities are able to enjoy the fantastic opportunities which play can bring.

We proposed to:

We are suggesting installing steel railings around the bottom of the steep banks, to avert motorbikes accessing the site. We will them create 2 formal access points with steps and handrails up the steep banks. These should improve access for people on foot, and make the site less accessible for motorbikes, etc. (The banks are currently steep, earth tracks with limited scope for accessibility.) We are also proposing to clear the entrance area off Princess Close to improve visibility. Tree planting on site for seasonal colour - flowers and leaves. We will also look to update and add equipment to the play area, we are suggesting using the existing fenced area for toddler/ junior play, with additional elements for junior/ teen play outside the railing. Within the fenced area we are proposing a new rubber mulch bonded safety surface, a bench, a set of toddler swings, a toddler unit and a see saw. For the equipment outside the railings we are proposing a grass rubber matting safety surface and the following pieces of equipment: 3 bay flat seat swing with inclusive seat, teen play unit, dip bars, chin up bars and climbing ladders. There will also be a new bin.