Work starts on 'innovative sports zone' on Meriden Park (From Watford Observer)
Get involved: send your pictures, video, news and views by texting WO to 80360, or email us
Work starts on 'innovative sports zone' on Meriden Park
4:44pm Tuesday 7th February 2012 in News By Mike Wright
Work starts on 'innovative sports zone' on Meriden Park
Work to build a new fitness and play area, which was designed with the help of two British Olympians, has started in the Meriden this week.
Builders began construction on the Sports Legacy Zone, on the Meriden Park opposite Garsmouth Way, on Monday.
The scheme is due to be completed by April and will be made up of six different zones and more than 23 pieces of equipment.
Olympians Steve Backley and Roger Black helped design the area and the features are set to have their ‘QR code’ which, when scanned on a smartphone, will play a video from either Steve or Roger explaining how to get the most out of the equipment.
Elected Mayor of Watford, Dorothy Thornhill said: "This is really exciting news. Watford is leading the way nationally with this innovative sports zone.
"For me this is best explained as a kind of super adventure playground for all ages, which focuses on fitness and sport. It will offer residents of all ages and abilities the opportunity to get fit, socialise and have fun."
Tina Barnard, chief executive of Watford Community Housing Trust, added:"This is a hugely exciting project for us.
"The Meriden is the Trust’s largest community area and will be the focal point for our fifth birthday celebrations later in the year, so we are very proud that it will boast this new Sports Legacy Zone. The first of its kind in the UK."
Comments(10)
Reg Edit
says...
5:17pm Tue 7 Feb 12
Rollnbutta
says...
5:47pm Tue 7 Feb 12
stuegs
says...
7:00pm Tue 7 Feb 12
dontknowynot
says...
7:49pm Tue 7 Feb 12
As for the development itself my understanding is that it is swamping meriden park and that the consultation consisted of One road being told, the Mayor putting it on her webpage the "lib dem" team and partners saying woohoo the locals that turned up being patronized if they said it was not the dogs bits and of course asking a few kids at the local primary school if the thought a BMX track was a good idea.
Personally I think it is a great idea but in the wrong place Garston Park would have been much better, because it would not have been swamped, that or Radlet Road linear park. Yes Meriden Park was neglected for over a decade by the Lib dems but what was needed was a new play bit for the little ones and repairs to the basketball/five aside bit by the community center. needed and w
dontknowynot
says...
8:06pm Tue 7 Feb 12
may local elections
unpopular LD candidate
local Labour candidate who did well last time
these things would have nowt to do with the lib dems putting money in!!
Nascot
says...
9:29pm Tue 7 Feb 12
Reg Edit wrote:Ever heard of Capital Funds? This is money that has to be spent on projects and not saved to reduce Council Tax. In any case, by spending money, the contractors get paid, income tax is collected, they have jobs, spend wages in shops, keep shop workers in jobs, who pay tax ... etc.. If no one spent any money, then everyone would be unemployed. Now THAT is a recession!
Can someone tell the Lib Dems there's a recession on and not to spend money they don't have to?
dontknowynot
says...
10:12pm Tue 7 Feb 12
This however is not the view of the Mayor or the coalition is it??
They hold that the cuts are needed.
On another note the thought that this project has been rushed for electoral reasons just keeps nagging away at me. Nice little photo op here for the ex Tory candidate seeking re election against a Labour candidate who must stand a chance this time round.
No no an MBE wielding Mayor would not do that must be coincidental
anniemcgarry
says...
4:49pm Wed 8 Feb 12
As for the Meriden being full of uneducated people and that this new equipment will be destroyed - this is not true. There is a small playground between the small flats and that was given new equipment over a year ago and it still looks new and has not been defaced in any way.
I am a teacher and think that this new park will be great for everyone in the local area especially the teenagers as they will have somewhere that they can go and use the equipment whereas the old park was only suitable for primary school aged children.
dontknowynot
says...
8:52am Thu 9 Feb 12
There have been people that have raised the neglect of provision for the youth of the area over the last decade, however it is not until now that anything is done. The equipment they are removing has been there for 15 years or more largely (almost entirely) unchanged.
In any event in April it will be here for good and bad, there will be a grand opening with the Lib Dem team all present and in May we elect our councillor
stuegs says...
5:11pm Tue 7 Feb 12
Unfortunately, the Meriden has more than its fair share of uneducated scum, who have no respect for things they havnt had to pay for. Which, incidently, happens to be almost anything.