Building the future of play

A newly built play area in Desborough based on a Flintstone’s theme has just received a new addition in the form of specially carved dinosaur.

The carving was undertaken by local chainsaw artist Peter Leadbeater who has made the exiting new piece to fit in with the existing play area.  This adds to the prehistoric theme under which inmates from Woodhill Prison in Milton Keynes also made a large out door play mosaic based on the snakes and ladders Children’s game.
The site which is located at the junction of Dunkirk Avenue and Rushton Road was installed by Kettering Borough Council after they received a £49,000 grant from the Department of Children, School and Families.  

Head of Community Services at Kettering Council, Valerie Hitchman, said that “this project marks a break from what may be seen as a traditional play area.  Its about creating inventive spaces using artworks and imaginative landscaping.  This will be quite a low key play facility with a strong emphasis on play for less able bodied children.”

Local school children from Havelock Junior school took part in the development of how the play area would look and have given their views of the outline proposals.  They have also supported Desborough Town councillors in choosing the winning design.

Nina Lloyd, 8, said “the playground that was there before wasn’t any good but the new one is so much fun. I can’t wait to see the new dinosaur”

Councillor Steve Bellamy, portfolio holder for the Community said “this is the third Playbuider site we have developed in the borough in the last two years which  has brought in an extra £150,000 for children’s play.  It’s a fact of life that neither local or national government will be willing to fund this sort of tremendous facility in the future which makes it even more fitting to win this money for play in the borough.  This is a new type of play area that fits well into this semi rural location the local kids will find it really exciting”.