Play facilities

Information about play facilities.

We adopted a Play area strategy for unsupervised outdoor children's playgrounds following consultation with local groups in 2003. We recognise the needs of local children to have a safe place to play, and sets out how children's play opportunities will be improved, with particular emphasis on those areas of the Borough with greatest need.

A play policy for Solihull was adopted in 2008 to address the wider issues about play, identify further play opportunities and raise the profile of play in Solihull.

We currently manage playgrounds, catering for toddler and junior age groups, and also provide facilities for young people on several sites. We aim to encourage inclusive play with items of equipment in a number of playgrounds suitable for all children including wheelchair users. Our playgrounds strike a balance between providing challenging and stimulating play and learning opportunities, whilst meeting current safety requirements. All play facilities are inspected on a daily basis to ensure our playgrounds are as safe as possible.

Playbuilder

Solihull MBC is 1 of 43 local authorities chosen by the department for children, schools and families to become a Playbuilder authority and be granted £1m for the development of play areas across the borough over a 3 year period.

As a Playbuilder authority, Solihull will take the opportunity to transform the provision of open access play in public parks across the Borough. We aim to commission the development of 25 play areas across the Borough, including community and third sector led projects, starting with 6 local authority playgrounds in Year 1 at an average cost of £50,000 each. At all sites we will engage with the local community through information and consultation and provide innovative, stimulating equipment and landscaping that will enable physically active play opportunities, whish are attractive to all children, including 8-13 year olds. All projects will ensure better access and play experiences for children with disabilities.

Working to guidance within The Children's Plan and Fair Play our project aims to support play throughout childhood; create more high quality places to play; help children play safely; make public space more child -friendly; and continue to sustain and embed play locally.

Year 1 sites

We identified 6 playgrounds for year 1, these sites were completed by March 2009. The year 1 developments are spread across the Borough and not concentrated in one area.

• Colebrook Recreation Ground
  Junior and Toddler Swings, Arched See-saw, Bicycle Mill Roundabout, Helicopter Springie, Hide & Slide Multi-play, Rotating Beam, Low Rotator, Single Point Swing, Boulders and Hopscotch.
• Dorridge Park
  Trampolines, Space net, Balance Beam, Nest Swing, Jumping Platforms, Tower Boulder, Combi Climber, Junior Swings, Climbing Unit, Springer and Toddler Swings.
• Elmdon Heath Recreation Ground
  Leap Frog Posts, Trampolines, Jumping Platforms, Pole Spin, Pod Seat Swing, Dish Roundabout, Stepping Pods, Balance Beam, Starter Climber, Junior Swings, Nest Swing, Low Rotator and Play See-saw .
• Kingshurst Park
  Long Climbing Unit, Embankment Slide, Dish Roundabout, Springie, See-saw, Climbing Boulder & Pull up Rope & Posts.
• Marston Green Park
  Dizzy Discs, Pole Spin, Single Point Swing, Spring Horse, Spring Seats, Stepping Pods, Toddler Climb & Slide Unit and Trio Rocket.
• Tudor Grange Park
  Boat Climber, Sand pit, Mushroom Stepping Stones and Compass Stones.
  Skate equipment - Rhino Ramps, Round Grind Rail and Half Pipe.

All of year 1 sites were completed by March 2009.  On 18th February 2009 Tudor Grange Play area was formally re-opened by the Lord Mayor, joining him were lots of children and families from the local community.

Year 2 sites

We are now in year 2 and have identified a further 10 sites to be developed.  3 of the sites are now completed the 7 remaining sites are due to be completed by the end of the year.

• Babbs Mill Park
  Sling Shot Swing, Rotating Beam, Rock Spinner, Seesaw, Mini Roller Coaster. 
• Beechcroft Open Space
  Nest Swing, Seesaw, Talk Tubes, Hoop Barriers, Zip Wire, Spider Climber,  Pod Seat Swing, Dish Roundabout.
• Bluebell Recreation Ground
  Aerial cable, Junior and Toddler Swings, Hide & Slide Multi-play, Seesaw, Springer, Roundabout, Spinning Dish, Rotating Beam, Climbing Frame, Embankment Slide and 5  A-side football area. 
• Brookside Recreation Ground
  Roundabout, Quad Flyer, Nest Swing, Pod Seat Swing, Stepping Stones, Leap Frog Posts, Balancing Beam, Stone Compass. 
• Chadwick End 
  Nest Swing, Seesaw, Trampoline, Goal Area, Oak Balance Beam, Stepping Logs,  Leap Frog Posts and Climbing Tree Trunks.
• Elmdon Coppice
  Roundabout, Wind Rider, Wipe Out, Activity Trail, Sling Shot Swing, Pod Seat Swing and Embankment Slide.
• Hillfield Park 
  Embankment Slide,Wobble Boards, Roundabout, Zip Slide, Yo-Yo Swing, Hurricane Swing, Climbing Boulders and Natural Play Features including Willow Arch and Sensory Planting.
• Knowle Park - The Friends of Knowle Park have kindly given their support to this project.
  Nest Swing, Rock Spinner, Wipe Out, Zip Wire, Springe, Trio Rocker, Pod Swing, Rotating Beam and Activity Trail with Climbing Net.

  

• Malvern Park
  Climbing Unit, Spinning Dish, 4 Metre High Space Net, Nest Swing, Trampoline, Cradle Swing, Snake Swing, Sandpit and Stone Boulders. 
• Olton Jubilee Park
  Teen Shelter, High Cone Climber, Stand Up Seesaw, Sling Shot Swing, Goal Ends, Rotating Beam, Rock Spinner and BMX Track.