We asked, you said, we did

We asked

We asked for your views on the equipment and layout proposed for the new accessible and inclusive playground at Victoria Recreation Ground.

You said

The consultation consisted of three online questionnaires. We received 24 responses to the professional questionnaire, 71 responses to the family and friends’ questionnaire and 16 responses to the potential user’s questionnaire. We also received seven direct emails.

The key themes from the public consultation were:

• respondents asked if the equipment can be used by children and adults, and those in wheelchairs
• over 80% of respondents said they would visit an inclusive playground
• concern that the existing playground at Victoria Recreation Ground will be removed
• request for more swinging items
• request for more sound and sensory items
• request for climbing equipment
• concern that the new equipment will be vandalised
• request for toilets including Changing Places toilet nearby
• respondents asked what the parking arrangements would be.

We did

Following the feedback, we are working on a revised design including some different equipment.

The equipment that will be included in the final design can be used by a wide age range and physical abilities. The intention is that there will be something for everyone. Most of the equipment can be used by children and adults. Some equipment can only be used by children, as we have been unable to source an adult version. There is equipment that can be used by those in wheelchairs, such as the swing, the roundabout and the seesaw. We are unable to have a hoist in the playground.

The existing playground at Victoria Recreation Ground will remain; this is an additional playground which aims to be accessible and inclusive.

There are several swinging items in the design including a wheelchair swing, two mirage swing seats and a nest swing. We are not planning on adding more swinging items to the design.

We have added more sound and sensory items into the revised design, with items that can be banged, spun and pushed, that create sound and/or patterns.

We are working to see if we can install a climbing net or similar into the revised design.

All the equipment has a lifetime guarantee. Vandalism can occur and we have tried to design the playground with this in mind.

New Barnet Leisure Centre is very close to the proposed playground. It has one Changing Places toilet and two accessible toilets.

In the local area there are the following parking options: the car park for the New Barnet Leisure Centre, the small car park on Park Road which is part of the park, and on street parking. Once the Fair Play Barnet playground has been constructed, we plan to undertake a user survey to understand if there are any specific challenges or barriers that require action. We will also listen to the comments from local residents.