Play area announcement from Friends of Portswood Rec – Excellent news!

“For those of you who may not already be aware, we are delighted to announce that following our brilliant recent fundraising campaign and successful meetings with Southampton City Council, work will commence shortly to improve the Play Area at Portswood Rec.

The exciting new play equipment that is being installed includes a multi- tower climbing frame, zip wire, Tippi Spinner and a Cliff Rider unit, which will be the first of its kind in Southampton! In addition to this, the existing swings will be removed and replaced with a 6-swing unit that will have 3 flat seats, 2 toddler seats and reuse the existing inclusive seat. We are also hoping that during the work, some repairs can take place to the existing roundabout making it easier for children to turn. Old favourites like the ship, basket swing, smaller climbing frame and trampoline will remain so there will be plenty of play opportunities for children of all ages.

To keep everyone safe, the play area will be closed whilst the work is taking place. The contractors will also need to deliver their materials from the entrance at Upper Grosvenor Road and move them across the grass to the play area. They will be using a temporary roadway for their vehicles to minimise damage to the grassed area, but this part of the Rec will also need to be fenced off and closed to public use whilst the work takes place. All other areas of the Rec, including the entrances at Brickfield and Kitchener Roads will be fully accessible as usual.

The Council always try to avoid closing play areas during school holidays, but given how close together the Upper Grosvenor Road entrances to the school and Rec are to each other starting the work during the holiday will be safer for everyone. Reducing the risk of school children and traffic mixing with the deliveries of materials, construction workers and their vehicles will lower the risk of harm for everyone and minimise disruption during term time.

We hope you understand and apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused.

We appreciate Southampton City Council’s investment and collaboration on this project, the extent of which would not have been possible without amazing fundraising support from our local community. Thank you to everyone who has helped!

We hope you are pleased with the final design which encompasses the most requested play features from the survey the Friends group undertook in 2023 when the old equipment was removed.

Regular updates about the work will be posted on the Friends group’s Facebook and website, www.friendsofportswoodrec.uk

Bev Pearce

Fundraising – Friends of Portswood Rec”