CHILDREN in neighbourhoods across Swansea will have the chance to get a bit of festive fresh air this Christmas and New Year period thanks to new play areas created for them by the council.
Work on new play zones have been completed recently in Plasmarl, Gendros, Pontlliw, the Phoenix Centre in Townhill, DFS in Morriston, Blaenymaes and Clydach with others to follow shortly in Brynmill Park, Manselton and Jersey Park in St Thomas.
It brings to more than 50 neighbourhoods around the city to have benefited from the £7m play areas renewal project that typically include facilities for disabled youngsters such as flush roundabouts, wide slides, basket swings and communication boards.
Climbing frames, trampolines and multiplay units are also often featured in play areas as part of the council’s ongoing to get children playing in their neighbourhoods.
Andrew Stevens, Cabinet Member for Environment and Infrastructure, said: “Since the end of the pandemic we’ve installed around 50 new play areas or upgrades in neighbourhoods all across the city.
“Children have been thrilled by what they find and parents have been clamouring for more. We’re very optimistic that they’ll love what they see when the building is done.
“The latest play areas will make for a brilliant New Year gift and an opportunity for families to get out of the house and enjoy fresh air and fun together.”
Facilities for disabled children including communication boards featuring BSL sign language have been fitted to all new play areas. Wherever possible flush roundabouts, basket swings, wide slides and ‘you and me’ seats for parents and toddlers have also been fitted.
Robert Francis-Davies, Cabinet Member for Investment, Regeneration and Tourism, said: “We want to support as many accessible play opportunities as possible in local communities. That’s why we’ve consulted with parents, carers and disabled children’s advocates on what they would like to see in their local play area.”
He added: “We made our play areas pledge a council policy commitment because we saw just how important they were to young families and children as a free place to go during the cost of living crisis.
“We wanted to continue to encourage opportunities to get out and about and from my visits to see the sites, it’s very clear the feedback has been enormously positive.”
Since the start of the play areas programme communities across Swansea have seen investment in areas including Mayhill, West Cross, Garnswllt, Bonymaen, Mawr, Grovesend, Penclawdd and Birchgrove.
