Grant for adventure playgrounds (From Watford Observer)

Grant for adventure playgrounds

9:58am Wednesday 6th August 2008 in

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TWO youth groups are enjoying the fruits of nearly £75,000 worth of funding, granted to improve the facilities at two of Watford’s most popular adventure playgrounds.

The group based at the Harwoods Adventure Playground, called Imagination, were awarded £30,000 to re-vamp the skateboard ramp and build a new bike track to challenge riders.

The fencing at the Vicarage Road playground will also be improved, as will the football goals and pitch markings.

A second grant, awarded to a group at Harebreaks adventure playground, known as Harebreaks Massive, will pay for a new multi-sports pitch.

The £44,000 funding will also go towards a series of improvements to a woodwork area, as well as to the fencing, football nets, seating areas and paid for better security system.

Both groups applied to The Big Spend, a fund provided by the government for young people aged between 13 and 19 years to be spend on positive activities.

Steve Madden, of Youth Connexions Hertfordshire, administers the fund for the county.

He explained “We have a combined budget of just over £1million to spend every year on positive activities.

“All funding requests are made by young people for things that they want and all the decisions on applications are made by young people.

“Both applications, from Harwoods Imagination and Harebreaks Massive, were really strong, and the young people who approved the funding were really impressed with the professionalism of the applications and the detail that was included in the bid.

“They felt that they would benefit a large number of young people in the area.”

Councillor Shirena Counter, of Watford Borough Council described the grants as “excellent news for young people in Watford”.

The cabinet member responsible for leisure services added: “Thanks to the hard work and dedication of these two groups, all those who use the two adventure playgrounds will benefit.”

Harwoods and Harebreaks adventure playgrounds are both managed by the council and are open year round to children aged five to 15 years old.

• For opening hours during term time please visit our website at www.watford.gov.uk. For more information on The Big Spend, please visit www.hertsdirect.org.