New playground and improvements approved for park

Firth Park will get a new playground and improvements to its existing facilities

A city park will receive a new playground and improvements to its existing facilities after funding was approved by the council.

Firth Park in Sheffield will be upgraded with £175,000 in grants alongside additional council funding, with the new playground aimed towards older children and teenagers.

The improvement work is expected to begin later this year, Sheffield City Council said.

Kurtis Crossthorn, chair of the communities, parks and leisure committee, said: "We are committed to ensuring we have spaces and facilities that are safe, inclusive and encourage more people to get outside more often."

The new playground will have a large net-climbing structure, a thick rope swing, a wheelchair-accessible trampoline, spinning disc, table tennis table, hanging bars and smaller swings.

Playground improvements will include replacing the multi-climber unit with an accessible model with two slides, as well as installing a new accessible roundabout and a new trim trail.

All new equipment will be installed within a fenced area with seating.

The non-profit FCC Communities Foundation contributed £100,000 to the project, while charity Veolia Environmental Trust has given £75,000.

The remaining money has been raised by the council's Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and sourced from its public health budget.

Richard Smith, FCC Communities Foundation senior grant manager, said: "We're delighted to be supporting the playground improvement works at Firth Park and are pleased our funding will provide such a fantastic facility for young people across Sheffield."

Andrew Brown, Veolia Environmental Trust executive director, added: "We know that the accessible play equipment will provide new play opportunities for children of all ages and we look forward to seeing the community enjoying the new facilities."

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