Riverside - New play areas for Runcorn

9 November 2009

Riverside celebrated the completion of its first project, supported by Big Lottery fund, to connect people with the outdoors. Runcorn kids braved the autumn winds and rain to try out a new play area launched at the Hillcrest centre in Halton Brook. Riverside, Halton Borough Council and Mayor of Halton Cllr Frank Fraser officially opened two new play areas, christened Brookers’ Den and Diddy’s Den by Halton Brook residents Helen Roberts and Antonia Chandler earlier this year.

Riverside earmarked £175,000 of Big Lottery Funding for the project – one of 12 led by the social landlord – following a successful bid for cash to green up urban spaces by a consortium of social landlords. Halton Borough Council contributed £50,000 towards the project from their department for children, schools and families playbuilder initiative, with Riverside adding a further £125,000. The play areas include state of the art equipment and a community garden. Divisional director from Riverside, Neil Townsend said: “It’s great to see the play equipment in place and in use. We should see the landscaping completed in the spring. I hope that the community take ownership of the space and look after it for many years to come.”

Children from Castle View School were the first to use Brookers’ Den following the launch event.