Plays Areas All Over Brighton & Hove To Be Refurbished In £3m Improvement Programme

Refurbishments begin on playgrounds across the city next week.

The refurbishments are the next phase in Brighton & Hove City Council’s £3 million programme to improve park play areas in Brighton & Hove.

Work began with the play area at Rottingdean Recreation Ground yesterday (Monday, July 17), which will be closed until the refurbishment is completed.

The focus of the programme is to provide inclusive and accessible play areas that can be enjoyed by everyone, including children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. 

The first phase of the playground project saw a total of 23 parks completed last year, including Carden Park, Easthill Park and Preston Park, where refurbishments have dramatically improved accessible play opportunities. 

Plans for the next phase of the refurbishment programme include innovative play equipment for all ages and abilities to enjoy, learn and play together.

Plans for Queens Park include playground equipment such as springer bowls, wide access ramps and a tipi carousel with a top brace, which aim to welcome children with mobility issues to join in.

The council is also installing a fully inclusive wheelchair accessible multi-play unit, MUGA and outdoor fitness area with multi-use gym equipment at Hollingdean Park.

Unfortunately, there is a delay on the delivery of new equipment for Queens Park so the council has put back the start of the playground refurbishment to the autumn. The work is now scheduled to begin on Monday 4 September.

Refurbishments of play areas in parks will continue over the summer months.

• Rottingdean Recreation Ground, starting from 17 July, full closure
• Saltdean Oval Park, starting from 24 July, partial closure
• Maggie’s Corner (Woollards Field), starting from 31 July, full closure 
• Knoll Park, starting from 14 August, partial closure
• Queens Park, starting from 4 September, partial closure

The council will confirm dates for when work begins on Hollingdean Park, Woodingdean Central Park and Whitehawk Way soon. 

All work is expected to be finished by winter this year and the council will do their best to minimise disruption as much as possible.

Councillor Tim Rowkins, Chair of the City Environment, South Downs and The Sea Committee, said:

“We’re delighted that the next phase of our park refurbishment programme begins next week, kicking off with Rottingdean Recreation Ground. 

“We know how much local residents are looking forward to seeing our brilliant and inclusive plans for Queens Park come to life. We’re disappointed to have to delay the work, but at least the play area will remain fully open throughout the summer holidays. The adjacent public toilets are also now open.

“Our refurbishments will provide bright, fun and inclusive play areas for children and young people across the city, and we look forward to seeing children of all abilities having fun in our parks.

“We’ve already refurbished 23 parks in Brighton & Hove and have plans for many more across the city next year.”