WORK is underway on a major refurbishment programme at children’s playgrounds and community green spaces across Leicester, thanks to Government funding.
Leicester City Council has been awarded £1.5 million from the Government’s Pride in Place Impact Fund to refurbish and enhance 15 outdoor community spaces across the city.
The city council is set to contribute an additional £230,000 of Section 106 developer contributions as match-funding for the project.
The new investment will see equipment completely overhauled on ten neighbourhood parks and play areas. Work is already finished at Loughborough Road play area, with a revamp of the play equipment at Thomasson Road playground due to be complete in the next couple of weeks.
Work on the remaining eight schemes expected to be complete by spring 2027.
These will include play areas at Appleton Park; Glovers Walk, in Beaumont Leys; Windmill Park on Keyham Lane; Kingfisher Youth Centre, in Saffron; Rushey Fields; St Helen’s Close; Stoughton Street; and the toddlers’ play area at Western Park.
There are major improvements planned for the play area in award-winning Abbey Park, which will see its existing play equipment completely overhauled and a new, large-scale multi-play unit installed, along with new landscaping.
The government funding also will support the creation of space for community food growing in New Parks and Saffron.
The Western Park Freeriders dirt jump trails are also currently being overhauled as part of the programme.
Assistant city mayor Cllr Vi Dempster, who leads on health and leisure, said: “This investment will make a real difference to families across Leicester, creating better parks, play areas and community spaces that people can be proud of.
“By working with the Government’s Pride in Place Impact Fund and using local funding too, we're delivering improvements that will benefit neighbourhoods for years to come.”