Local families have enjoyed a celebration event at East Park today (Tuesday) to mark the opening of a brand new play area and splash pad, following more than £600,000 of investment by City of Wolverhampton Council.

The new play area with treetop towers, friendly sharks and octopus and water splash play has been completed after local residents helped shape the plans.

The celebration event was held at the park for the local community and included a free bouncy castle and face painting, entertainment and refreshments.

The development of the play area at East Park includes a toddler zone with cradle swings and a trampoline, a junior zone with climbing walls and multi-play unit and a teenage area with pendulum swing and giant slides.

Other attractions include roundabouts, seesaws, wetpour tunnels, firefighters pole, rockers, springers and bucket and rope swings.

The play area has been designed to be as inclusive as possible with ramped access for wheelchair users, hand grips and tactile play panels. Swings and spinning areas have been designed to allow children of all abilities and confidence levels to play alongside their friends.

Work has been carried out by City of Wolverhampton Council in partnership with contractors Wicksteed. Designs were based on views from residents who took part in the East Park consultation.

Overall, the council received a total of 259 responses: 44 responses from a household survey, 149 online and 66 from a face-to-face survey which took place in the park. In addition to this, 15 responses were received from the young persons’ survey.

The consultation was carried out to gather feedback from residents on how £630,000 in available funding could be used to enhance the facilities in the park for young people, families, and residents.

Councillor Craig Collingswood, City of Wolverhampton Council’s cabinet member for environment and climate change, said: “How great to see children, young people and families enjoying the event today.

“Getting out and about in our parks and green spaces is so important and the fantastic new play area and splash pad at East Park offers such a fun way to get active with friends.

“I’d like to thank all the residents who took the time to take part in the public consultation about improvements at the park, the local councillors and our stakeholders and partners. I hope local people come along and enjoy this new and inclusive space.”