Victorian English park reveals plans for huge new playground with castle attractions, zip lines and sand pits
CASTLE Park playground is getting a well-needed revamp, and the design is being chosen by locals.
Found in the heart of Colchester, the tired play area is about to become ten times more fun with huge attractions and even zip lines.
The announcement for the Castle Park playground revamp was made by Colchester City Council in summer last year - and now, the designs are in.
Four separate designs for the park have been put forward.
One contains a huge fort-like climbing frame with various slides and another climbing frame surrounded by play sand.
The second design has a jungle theme with climbing nets, a sensory area and a quiet zone. There's also a Roman zone with zip lines and swing seats.
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Another design is based on Colchester through time with Victorian, Medieval, Roman and Celtic themed areas.
The fourth design also has zip lines, a bouncing area, wooden trail and picnic seating as well as a huge duck climbing frame.
All have inclusive areas suitable for wheelchair users.
The interesting thing about the play area's refurbishment is that locals get to vote for their favourite design.
Colchester City Council has asked residents to choose which play area they'd like to see in Castle Park.
Councillor Martin Goss, Portfolio Holder for Waste, Neighbourhoods and Leisure, said: “We are thrilled to reach this exciting stage of the playground refurbishment and to present these four fantastic design options.
Martin Goss added: "The community’s input will help shape a much-loved space for children to play and families to enjoy for years to come. I encourage everyone to take part in the vote and help us create something truly special for Castle Park.”
The deadline for responses is Tuesday 6 May.
Once the winning design is chosen, construction is scheduled to begin in winter 2025, with an expected opening in early 2026.
Another popular play park is Adventure Play in Windsor Park.
It's set across 1.2 acres, first opened in 2023 and in it you'll find a world of walkways, slides, sculptures, and treehouses.
It also features the UK's first roller slide which is a unique slide with rollers instead of a smooth surface.
There are different areas in the park for smaller children, such as mini climbing nets, tree stump trails, and swings.
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Tickets for adults range from £10-£12, with tickets for children aged 2-17 costing £13-£16, depending on whether you book for a peak or off-peak day and time.
Each booked session lasts two hours.