Casestudy: Charnwood
Client: Charnwood Borough Council
Budget: £50,000/Site
Age Range: 2 – 16 year olds.

Client Background
Charnwood Borough Council had secured money from its capital programme, section 106 planning agreements and the Big Lottery Fund that totalled £513,000 to invest in 4 key play areas in the area. This included refurbishment of existing facilities at 3 sites by Christmas 2007: Cumberland Road, Jubilee Park and Rendell Street.

Project Brief
Cllr Hillary Fryer, cabinet member for planning and development and member champion of play commented that: “All developments will be focused on delivering outcomes that will make a real difference to the lives of Charnwood’s children & young people”. To aid with the design process, the landscape architect firm Bellinger Design were bought in to manage the project. It was decided by Bellinger and Charnwood that the equipment provided needed to have a distinctive feel with a range of play activities available, so that it offered a new experience to the local and wider communities.

Design Solution
Following a public consultation with local school children, the most popular equipment chosen was that of Nottingham based company Proludic Ltd. Proludic are well known for their challenging and exciting play equipment and were able to offer their new versatile and distinctive Biibox multiplay product range.  Bellinger Design were also impressed with Proludic after attending one of their popular educational seminar dates where they learned about the benefits of the new Biibox range alongside other issues such as Providing for the Youth of Today.

Play Areas
Jubilee Park
A play area and a separate teen area were required for Jubilee Park. For younger children the Astrolab multiplay unit, Twiny Springer and Speedgyro Roundabout brought together a learning circuit that encourages awareness and motor skills. The bright colours used on the Astrolab unit and the themed element of the car in the Twiny Springer also helps young children to explore and develop their imagination.

For juniors, the Biibox multiplay with an aerial cableway and turbo slide allows for dynamic and adventurous play. 
Also included is a Pod Swing, which is a great inclusive piece of equipment enabling a child to be cradled and supported by their carer or guardian.

The teen area included a Rodeo Board and a Roll-up. The Rodeo Board is taken from The Proludic Sports range and seeks to replicate the exhilarating sensations you would receive from wind surfing. Suitable for 2 users, it allows friends to meet, challenge and try to master the technique.

Cumberland Road
Cumberland Road features both a play area and a MUGA. The play area features a Double Gyro, which allows 2 users to master the technique of spinning at speed. Also included are 2 more Biibox units with the tube style finish, which gives it a modern and contemporary look.

Rendell Street Play Area
Installed onto wetpour safety surfacing, Rendell play area is both compact yet full of exciting play activities. It comprises of a Helicopter Springer for young children, Cradle Swings, Rotatwin, Astrolab multiplay unit, anti wrap flat seat swings, a Speedgyro roundabout and a Biibox multiplay unit.

Outcome
The 3 sites were installed for the public to use in December 2007, with the official opening in January 2008. The feedback from children using the areas has been very positive. Heather Sparkes, the designer for Bellinger commented: “We are very pleased with the finished product of the playground. I love the way the equipment looks and the children have responded very enthusiastically during both the public consultation and the completion of the play areas”.