Swansea Labour continue to put families first with ongoing community play area upgrade scheme

Pupils of YGG Pontybrenin

Swansea Labour is to continue their bid to upgrade scores of community play areas across the city over the coming months. More than 30 playgrounds in parks and communities across the city have already been upgraded or have plans in hand as part of Labour’s £2m post-pandemic project to encourage more children and young families to get outside and have fun.

Now the £2m fund is set to be almost doubled so that thousands more youngsters can benefit from the scheme as Swansea Labour put families, children and communities first.

Swansea Labour Cllr Rob Stewart, Leader of the Council, made the announcement at Full Council saying the scheme would be the most comprehensive of its kind ever done and means every community in Swansea will see play areas improved.

 “After the pandemic they’ve been through with all its challenges and uncertainty, extending the already successful upgrades is the right thing to do for our children and communities,” he said.

 “Children and young families used our parks and play areas as never before during the lockdowns for their daily exercise. They were havens for youngsters who had few other safe opportunities to get out and about. Added Cllr Stewart, the Swansea Labour leader: “By upgrading more play areas the council is committing itself to encouraging children and young families to build on their good habits, adopt local green spaces and enjoy themselves. It is play justice for them.”

 Around 30 more play areas in communities from Blaenymaes to Ynystawe will be seeing improvements in a programme over the coming 15 months, funded partly by match funding, but, largely with the support of the Labour-led council’s Economic Recovery Fund.

The extra funding of £1.9m will bring the total amount being spent on play area improvements to more than £4m. It will include £400,000 being set aside for maintenance costs to help keep them spic and span for future generations.

Already more than 15 communities around the city have seen the benefits of the current investment programme, with at least 20 more under construction or in the pipeline. 

Among those opened are play areas in Grovesend, Heol Las, Parc y Helig, Polly’s Park and Cwm Glas. Others being worked on include the play area at Singleton Park’s boating lake, Mayhill and Weig Fawr.

Labour Cllr Andrew Stevens, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Business Improvement and Performance, said the play area initiative had already been a huge hit with youngsters.

 “The feedback I’ve had has been really heartwarming. The proof of the project’s success has been seeing so many children enjoying themselves, being active and excited in safe play areas,” he said.

 “The extra funding means that every community and hopefully every child in Swansea will never be far from a local play area boasting up-to-date equipment they can use time and again.

“Every ward in Swansea will benefit from what we are doing and we are working with local ward members in each community to ensure the funding is directed towards those play areas that will benefit from this additional investment.”

To find out more about Swansea’s new generation of play areas go to: https://www.swansea.gov.uk/newplaygrounds