An innovative and unique new playscape and community garden is being planned for the grounds of Northdown Park in Cliftonville, which will help improve opportunities for play in the area.
The project is being led by The Children's Society, with support from Thanet District Council and Pfizer, and the original idea came from local parents and children, who approached The Children's Society. They wanted a dedicated, safe area, especially for children with disabilities. Many disabled children and their families are unable to enjoy the traditional or natural play areas most of us take for granted. The area is being designed around the needs of these children and their families, but will be open to the whole community to enjoy.
The Secret Garden will provide an opportunity to help rejuvenate Northdown Park, with a series of improvements planed. These include access paths to the garden, cleaning up walls, re-paving and tidying foliage, although the garden will be focusing on natural play.
Local people can find out more about what's being planned on Tuesday 8 September, when proposals for the park will be on display at Northdown House between 10.00am and 2.00pm. People can speak to members of the project team and see visuals of what's being planned. The project team, which includes parents and children, have already undertaken consultation with local disability groups, local schools, play schools and Sure Start organisations who have all expressed a keen interest in using the facility.
Ivan O'Reilly, Programme Manager, The Children's Society's Windchimes Project, said: "This is an exciting opportunity to create a unique and natural play area for children with disabilities. This is all about natural play, so we want to retain as much of the existing trees and plants as possible in the hidden park.. Instead, we're looking at lots of wooden play equipment to enhance the park and creating opportunities for natural, creative and imaginative play. It's a beautiful area and this project has the potential to help improve Northdown Park in the same way as Dane Park has been improved over the last couple of years. As a unique facility it may attract families from across East Kent"
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