Some good progress to report on the landscaping at the park, with contractor activities on the key areas likely to be complete in the next few days. It’s probably inevitable given the better weather and school holidays but the city council and their contractors have been fighting a losing battle to keep enthusiastic children (and parents) off what in many cases is fully installed equipment. To repeat a previous plea: please do give any new turf or reseeded areas some help by not encouraging play on these areas until they are well established.
LLRA’s understanding of where the project team is:
Central fenced area: This should officially open for this weekend. Turf was laid two weeks ago and has had chance to take. The maintenance contractor will reinstall the fence panel after mowing this week and return to using the contractor gate from next week. The city council are still awaiting an independent play inspection report – but are optimistic the area is compliant.
The Sports wall area (basketball / football) is ready for use. By the looks of it some young people have already figured this out without the need for an independent inspection report. On the areas around the court, can we repeat the plea: please treat the grass areas kindly, until they are well established.
Zip-wire area: Turfing and remaining groundworks will be completed before Easter. This will need two weeks for the turf to settle and then the installation contractor will return to lay the grass mats along the length of the zipwire. This and other work should mean this whole area will be open for the May bank holiday weekend. (Please do give priority to children on the zip wire).
Remainder of landscaping across the park: On the big areas requiring reinstatement the ground is being prepared and seeded this week. With good weather, we should notice a return to a pre-construction state around the May bank holiday.
At some stage in May there may be a small opening ceremony to recognise the handover of the park and the formal completion of the project. To comply with pre-election rules this will have to be after the local elections on May 5th. Any ceremony will have no effect on the timing on when equipment is available for use. It is just a nice opportunity to thank all those who have worked hard to deliver great new facilities for the children of Long Leys and the wider communities in Carholme and Castle Wards.
On a “green note”, LLRA would encourage all those planning trips to the park to arrive on foot or by cycle wherever possible. There are off-road routes available from St. Georges (via the footpath and then Newt Hollow / Hobblers Hole path) and the West End (via West Common). Cycles can be locked to the central fenced area.
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