Maidenhead & Windsor

Desborough Park will be a hive of activity when the Mayor, Cllr Dorothy Kemp, arrives to officially open the Maidenhead park's refurbished children's play area on Tuesday August 5.

The Mayor will carry out the official ribbon cutting at 11am, watched by lead member for Windsor and Maidenhead leisure and culture Cllr Jesse Grey, officers and invited guests.

At the same time, the 1319 summer holiday activities programme for Windsor and Maidenhead lteenagers will be in action in the multi-use play area and the local residents' kiosk will be open for business.

Work on the new play area for three- to 12-year-olds started towards the end of June. Tarmac paths and safety surfacing were replaced, the fence repainted and existing seats and bins refurbished, and the old play equipment replaced by new kit comprising:

· a 4.3m-high climbing frame with metal poles, ropes and climbing walls, perch platform and firefighter's pole
· a 'speed gyro' roundabout that allows children to vary the speed by how close to the edge they sit – and how brave they feel!
· two cradle seat swings for toddlers and one pod swing for all ages
· a 'quatro springer' which allows up to four children to push with their hands and feet and rock as energetically as they like
· a 'biibox' multiplay unit for balancing, climbing and sliding
· a gyro spiral – a roundabout/seesaw combination for two that gently rotates and rocks
· an 'aerospeed' cable runway.

Windsor and Maidenhead Cllr Grey said: "This is a great new area where children of all ages can come to enjoy themselves, get exercise and develop physical skills.

"While providing a fun venue for youngsters, we also managed to achieve economies of scale by combining the Desborough Park work with other park improvements across the borough."

The £72,000 refurbishment is part of a borough-wide park improvement programme funded by Section 106 developer contributions. Desborough Park was selected because the existing equipment was reaching the end of its useful life and the ground surface uneven.

Other attractions at the park on the day, and throughout the summer holidays, include the 1319 programme and the kiosk.

The 1319 programme is running at parks around the borough. For further details visit www.rbwm.gov.uk/web/13-19_index.htm or text or call the 1319 information hotline on 07876 356768.

The kiosk is run on a voluntary basis by Larchfield resident Sally West to raise funds for a community centre – an initiative supported by the Mayor who, with Sally, is a member of the Larchfield Community Group.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead