Plans submitted for new playgrounds costing £750k

Designer Emily Jennings said that the new playgrounds would be "transformational" for the children of St Helier

Plans to create a new playground in Parade Gardens, as well as refurbishing an "outdated" existing one, have been submitted by the Parish of St Helier.

A decision to spend £750,000 on the project was made in July by ratepayers who attended a parish assembly.

The Town Hall has now put forward two, separate applications for planning permission.

It said the designs had taken inspiration from "the very successful new playground in St Martin".

The playground for children aged seven and above would include swings in a hexagonal shape and an inclusive metal climbing frame, the designer said.

Parish officials said the plans to refurbish the existing playground would not involve any changes to its size or shape.

Instead, they said new play equipment would be installed, including six swings in a hexagonal shape, metal roundabouts and an inclusive, "huge dome climbing frame".

The Town Hall said the refurbished play area would be aimed at children aged seven and above.

The refurbished playground would be a "community asset that young people can enjoy", officials said

Meanwhile, officials said that a second playground aimed at children aged up to six would be created next to the existing cafe.

Head of engagement Connor Burgher said that parish officials would be "looking to the business community to try and offset" some of the project's £750,000 cost.

"We were looking back through the records and it is a very, very long time since any significant investment happened to the parks," he said.

"Now is the time to revitalise it and to create a community asset that young people can enjoy."

Subject to approval, the parish said it hoped work on the playgrounds would be completed "towards the end of spring 2025"

Designer Emily Jennings said that the new playgrounds would be "transformational" for the children of St Helier.

She said: "A whole family will be able to go for a good length of time and the younger ones will have something to do as well as the older ones.

"It's very hard to meet all children's needs in one space.

"As we know, toddlers don't run in straight lines and often get in the way of older children.

"I'm also really aware of the lack of any play kit to meet the needs of teenagers.

"I think children 12 and up have a pretty tough time on island at the moment.

"There isn't much play kit for them and they get in trouble when they all climb on one swing and break it, so I was really passionate about creating a space where they would be welcome."

Designs show the proposed new playground for younger children would be created to the east of the Parade Gardens café

With a planning decision still to be made, the parish said that its own public engagement exercise had "shown that there is good support for both the refurbished playground and the new playground".

Subject to approval, it said it hoped work on the two playgrounds would be completed "towards the end of spring 2025".