Leisure Projects

£1.1 million Playbuilder Funding success

In January 2009 Leisure Services learned of the success of an application for 'Wave 2 Playbuilder' funding.  The award is made by the Department of Children, Schools and Families and administered by Play England.  Twenty two of Poole's 46 play areas are due to benefit by the end of March 2011 [more]

NEW March 2009

To follow the progress of all Leisure Projects listed below, and of the new Playbuilder award spending, please visit our dedicated web pages at www.leisureprojects.net.

During 2009 more than £800,000 is due to be spent on installing new equipment and improving safety in Poole's playgrounds:

Links below (2009 projects) will take you to the new web pages

• The play area at Whitecliff Recreation Ground re-opened to the public on the Easter weekend, 10th April 2009, following its complete refurbishment.  The exciting and quite unique new facility proved hugely popular from the first moment.
• Green Gyms for Green Spaces. If your gym membership has been credit crunched, or you'd simply like to do some exercise in an open, healthy environment then why not try the new range of outdoor fitness equipment and activity routes installed in Poole Park, Baiter and Whitecliff ? 
• At Hamworthy Park plans are underway on the complete refurbishment of the play area for young people over the age of about 9 yrs. Work is expected to be complete on or before 20th July 2009, to coincide with the school summer holidays.  Phase One (a play area for younger children) was completed in May 2007.
• Sandbanks Recreation Ground - £400,000 was allocated in 2007 to a project to provide a children's play area and improve the overall landscape at Poole's premier beach. Work started in March that year with substantial improvements to the beach entrance and landscaping around the Pavilion. A six metre tall activity net was installed in a new children's play area and proved so popular that we now plan to extend the range of play equipment that should be ready to be enjoyed by the influx of visitors this summer season.
• The views of residents, local traders and users of Parkstone Park at Ashley Cross are being sought on a raft of proposed improvements there, due in 2009. 
• £150,000 has been allocated to long overdue improvements to all three entrances to Alexandra Park in Parkstone.  An architect has been contracted and designs agreed; work is expected to start in May.
• Proposals to redesign the Walled Garden at Upton Country Park are an important element of the Park's restoration. The Council has funding towards it, but not enough to deliver what would be a high quality and comprehensive programme of improvements.  In December 2007 a funding application was made to the Heritage Lottery Fund and in June 2008 we received notification regretting that our bid was unsuccessful.  The project is on hold while the team look at the options available to them.

Keep up to date with project progress at our dedicated web pages www.leisureprojects.net

Already completed in 2007-08

• At Branksome Rec, a new climbing wall - the first for Poole - has been installed next to the play area.  It was officially opened by the Mayor on 26th June 2008 and has already proved popular with climbers of all ages.
• Refurbishment of the older childrens equipment at St Georges Field was completed in February, and a new toddler play area in July 2008. 
• New kick-about rebound walls/basketball hoops were installed at Harford Road open space in June 2008, and at Scott Road open space in July.
• Small enhancement projects were completed at Branksome Rec and Foreland Road play areas, with more underway at Charter Road and Turlin Moor Pavilion.
• During 2007 the playground at Kingston Road was completely refurbished and a new one installed at Bourne Valley Youth Centre. At Hamworthy Park Phase One of a two-phase project saw the delivery of a new and very popular play area for younger children.
• £50,000 contributed to environmental improvements at Alderney Recreation Ground (since renamed Bourne Valley Park) that have transformed an underused and featureless open space into a haven for wildlife. We also created a new fishing lake for local youngsters.
• £150,000 paid for environmental improvements to Poole Park Lake which have allowed the introduction of recreational sailing for the first time in many years. Work was completed in April 2007, but it will be some time before the full benefits are apparent.
• At Branksome Chine £30,000 was spent on making Beach Road Car Park a more welcoming and user-friendly asset to our fabulous beaches.

The cost of all this work is covered by Planning Obligations Funding, money paid to the Council by private developers towards providing the facilities and services required to mitigate the impact of residential development and increased populations. Contributions go towards a range of local improvements - roads, schools, healthcare and, as in this case, leisure, play & recreational facilities.

The Green Card Scheme was introduced in December 2007, enabling residents, community groups and other organsiations to propose Planning Obligations funded projects that they believe could improve the leisure opportunities for those living and working in Poole.