Children will finally be able to try out a £200,000 play scheme in Falmouth's Kimberley Park when it opens on Saturday at 10am.
Kimberley Park Association was set up to take the project forward with the assistance of the town council, which manages the park, and have spent two years securing funding and working with the community to come up with the right scheme.
The play area combines natural materials such as wood, sand, and stone, with imaginative, timber play structures, planting, and curvaceous earth forms to provide a variety of experiences from active to contemplative.
Features include a spiral sensory trail, a serpentine pathway leading to a central compass with sculptures and mosaics, a miniature willow woodland, and a variety of climbing, balancing, swinging and sliding activities, with plenty of places to sit, meet and enjoy the park.
Janey Davis, from the association, said:"The amount of effort and support that the community has given this project has been incredible.
"We believe this is a really special park, and the new play area will ensure that families can now relax and have fun in beautiful surroundings while their children explore the exciting new play equipment.
"Some really special features are the bespoke 'mini-docks' in the sand play area, and the challenging trim trail. There are further additions planned for the spring, when the three Automata will be installed in time for the Spring Party to celebrate the opening of the new play area. It will be great to see all the planting brought to life in the warmer weather as the plants become established.
"It's great to see our ambitions realised, over four years ago I don't think any of us envisaged such an amazing outcome. We cannot wait to see children in there having fun."
The project was designed by landscape architect James M Brown who has worked closely with the project management team.
He said, "The aim was to create a play-space that was fun, interesting, engaging and attractive within an historic and beautiful park. The design references Falmouth's nautical past and artistic character together with Cornwall's myths and rugged landscape"
Constructed by Earth Wrights Ltd from Buckfastleigh,the play elements have been predominantly built of wood and constructed on site.
Mike Jones from Earth Wrights said:"The playground caters for different types of play- lots of climbing, balancing, swinging, sliding and jumping; loose materials like sand, earth, leaves and twigs that kids can make things from, role play games in the tree house, hut and tower and socialising in the hang-out nets and around the picnic tables."
