Ivydene play area

Closed 10 Jun 2019

Opened 24 May 2019

Contact

0118 9372923

Feedback updated 27 Jun 2019

We asked

We asked specialist playground companies to submit a design for a new play area for children up to the age of 12 years for all abilities and we put the choice of five playground designs to the public vote.

We wrote to 200 residents living near the playground, we asked pupils attending Wilson Primary School and users of Rivermead Leisure Complex to choose their preferred option.  We also asked people to vote online.

During the consultation, you said you wanted a better description of the equipment. So we asked the playground companies to provide additional information which included a description of their equipment and its functions.

You said

We received over 800 votes in total, with the winning design, number 2 from Kompan, receiving over half the votes.  It was overwhelmingly the favourite choice of the school children.

The results of the consultation are tabled below:

Choice of design

Rivermead

Wilson Primary

RBC hub

TOTAL

RANKING

1

HAGS-SMP

 

 

9

 

29

 

0

 

38

 

5th

2

KOMPAN

 

 

123

 

249

 

57

 

429

 

1st

3

PROLUDIC

 

 

30

 

34

 

81

 

145

 

3rd

 

4

SUTCLIFFE

 

 

18

 

20

 

2

 

40

 

4th

5

WICKSTEED

 

 

49

 

103

 

5

 

157

 

2nd

 

TOTAL

 

 

229

 

435

 

145

 

809

 

 

We did

The winning scheme was returned to Wilson Primary School and Rivermead Leisure Complex for the children and public to view.  More details on the winning scheme.

It is anticipated that work on the new play area will begin in September 2019 and be ready for use by the half term week in October.

Results updated 18 Jun 2019

We are delighted to announce the winning design for the new playground at Ivydene in west Reading.

We launched a consultation on 25th May and put the choice of five playground designs to the public vote. We wrote to residents living near the playground, and the shortlisted designs were on display at Rivermead Leisure Centre and Wilson Primary School, with children at the school and those attending Rivermead using a ballot box and voting slips to choose their preferred option. People could also vote online.

We received over 800 votes in total, with the winning design, number 2 from Kompan, receiving over half of the votes. It was also overwhelmingly the favourite choice of the school children.

Comments on the winning design included: “I like it because it is suitable for all ages and has a range of different equipment,” and “Looks like the best design – more fun things for children and not too crowded.”

Ivydene play area, located next to Portman Road in west Reading, has been earmarked for a £100K investment. It is anticipated that the work will start on site in September and ready for use by the half term week in October.  The existing play area will be closed while the refurbishment is undertaken. The new equipment is designed for toddlers and children up to the age of twelve years and will provide accessible equipment for children of all abilities.

The winning design is now on display at Rivermead Leisure Centre during opening hours, at Wilson Primary School and here online below alongside details on the equipment that is proposed.

Funding for playground improvements across the borough have been secured from developers who made a contribution to the Council’s Community Infrastructure Fund.  Reading communities were consulted last summer on how money collected from local planning developments should be spent. The top ranked schemes, including Ivydene, were approved at the Council’s Policy Meeting on 26th November 2018.

Files:

Overview

The play area known as Ivydene, adjacent to Portman Road, is to be completely refurbished later this year. The existing equipment and surfacing have reached the end of their life and we are taking this opportunity to replace all the items and reconfigure the area to make best use of the available space and make it easier to maintain in the long term. Funding for this project is coming from nearby developer contributions and we anticipate that the overall expenditure will be approximately £100,000.

The new equipment is designed for use by children up to the age of twelve years and suitable for all abilities. 

We invited a number of playground companies to submit designs and the public are now being asked to vote for their preferred option.  Each design includes two specific items of play equipment known for their inclusivity.  Not only are these accessible for wheelchair users and those who are less mobile, but relatives/carers accompanying children can use the equipment at the same time to play together. Along with the illustrations, a description of the equipment and its functions has been provided by the manufacturers. These can be viewed in the links at the bottom of the page.

The scheme with the most votes will be implemented and the winning design can be viewed here from Monday 17 June.

Why your views matter

We are consulting local primary school children and residents and asking them to choose what equipment they would like to see in the play area. 

You can view the designs here

or

you can visit Rivermead Leisure Complex, Richfield Avenue, from Saturday 25th May to Monday 10th June during their opening hours Rivermead Leisure Complex | Gym in Reading with Swimming Pool | Better.

What happens next

It is anticipated that the refurbishment work will commence in September and the play area will be closed while the refurbishment is undertaken.

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