The Deputy Mayor of Barnet, Cllr Danny Rich, opens the Market Place Playground in East Finchley
Barnet Council has unveiled a new playground in East Finchley transforming it into a green, modern park for the whole community to enjoy, as well as contributing to Barnet’s NetZero aspirations.
It’s been a four-year journey from the original imaginative vision, through extensive community consultation and the design, fundraising and build phases to deliver the transformation of this historic bit of East Finchley.
Thanks to a hugely collaborative approach to fundraising across the local community and beyond, as well as council investment, a total of £464,000 in improvements to the Market Place Playground have been made. These include new swings, benches, picnic areas, cycle racks, a climbing frame, a slide and more.
The concrete and old tarmac flooring has been replaced with a fun sandy area for children to play in, and the park now features wider stretches of grass and safer surfacing, making it a much safer place to play.
Cllr Alison Moore, Cabinet Member for Health & Wellbeing and East Finchley Ward Member, said:
"I want to thank everyone who has worked hard throughout an intensely collaborative process to make this wonderful playground a reality. There have been so many dedicated groups of individuals who have worked and fundraised to make this happen, and I’m delighted to see so many local children enjoying and exploring this fantastic new space.
"Not only is it a place where youngsters can have lots of fun, but it will also help keep our young people active, encouraging imaginative play and improving their health and wellbeing, and give families and friends a place to meet and relax."
Samantha Haycock, Friends of Market Place Playground, said:
"Watching children of all ages pour into the playground on the first day was pure joy. It’s been wonderful to surprise, delight and inspire them. The physical and health benefits of the new space are obvious, but there’s also a bigger message to the next generation – that it is possible to make a positive and lasting change to your environment.”
The renovated playground was officially opened on Sunday during a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by the Deputy Mayor of Barnet, Cllr Danny Rich.
Roger Chapman, Secretary of East Finchley Community Trust, said:
“This scheme has turned grey tarmac into a green oasis. It has created a natural space adaptable to climate change and a space no longer just a playground but a new park for all ages to enjoy.”
Funding for the playground came from various sources, including the council’s Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), which uses money from developers to offset the negative effects of urban development. Other contributors included The Mayor of London Grow Back Greener Fund, Grange Big Local, CSDS Foundation, Betty Messenger Charitable Foundation, London Marathon Foundation, Aviva Community Fund, Garfield Weston Foundation, Spacehive and BUPA Foundation.
ENDS
Sources of funding for the playground:
|
Source |
Amount £ |
|
Barnet Council – East Area Committee -money is Neighbourhood CIL |
150,000 |
|
Barnet Council – Greenspaces capital funding – Strategic CIL |
50,000 |
|
Mayor of London – Grow Back Greener |
56,750 |
|
Grange Big Local |
50,740 |
|
CSDS Foundation |
25,000 |
|
Betty Messenger Foundation |
25,000 |
|
London Marathon Trust |
20,000 |
|
Garfield Weston Foundation |
20,000 |
|
Spacehive crowd funder (in partnership with Barnet Council) |
16,000 |
|
BUPA Foundation Green Community Grant |
2,500 |
|
Aviva Community Fund |
27,000 |
|
Local donations including from Bill Nighy event |
21,200 |
|
TOTAL |
464,000 |