The first of two adventurous playgrounds to be transformed after a £1.4million investment by Watford Borough Council has opened on Monday 20 February to the delight of young people.

The new playground at Harebreaks has been designed to give young people of all abilities from 5 years upwards an amazing space to play and challenge themselves on some really exciting equipment. The playground is home to a large 22-metre-long tower that stretches more than 12 metres into the air. Young people can scramble up a climbing wall and across a bridge to reach the tower before climbing up to a fast straight slide and a steep twirly one. There is also a mid-air netted area for them to have a rest or scramble across to get higher up the structure.

Around 50 children from nearby Beechfield Primary School tried out the new equipment and found it challenging and fun. Alisha Thorpe, aged 10, said: “I think it’s amazing and I love the curly slide especially. It goes around and around and it’s really fast.”

Cllr Karen Collett, Portfolio Holder for Community, said: “We have delivered this adventurous playground on budget and ahead of time, and it will be open 365 days a year for young people to enjoy. We have designed it to fit in perfectly with its natural woodland surroundings. This is something that 5 to 15-year-olds will be able to enjoy, and we are glad the first children to use it loved it so much. We can’t wait for our new Harwoods Adventure Playground to reopen in May.”

The new Harwoods will contain a double zip wire, play tower with mid-air tunnel, slide, bridge and climbing wall. The tower – accessed via an exciting wibbly wobbly bridge designed for children of all abilities – has special panels to reflect light in different colours.

Elected Mayor of Watford Dorothy Thornhill said: “We are committed to providing exciting, imaginative and fun play activities for children, families and young people in Watford. The new adventurous playgrounds will be supported by free Easter and summer holiday activities for young people that we’re rolling out across Watford. We’re also expanding our programme of free events at Watford Museum and Cassiobury Park, so now is a great time to be young in Watford.”

Watford Borough Council Press Release 20th February 2017