Racing tracks, monkey bars and graffiti walls could be coming to The Moatfield Recreation Ground in Bushey if young people have their way on how the popular park is developed.

Around £75,000 has been provided for the area by the Genesis Housing Group, currently building hundreds of homes on the nearby former Ministry of Defence estate. To work out how the money should be spent, Hertsmere Borough Council undertook a consultation on Monday with not only councillors and adults, but the main users of the field - the area's young people.

Running alongside a packed-out play rangers event in the park, police and council officers were on hand to collect suggestions for improvements to the park's facilities.

Hertsmere Borough Council officer Fiona Leadley said: “We have got the play area but we are looking at what we can do for children over the age of eight so we set up this consultation to hear what young people want to see in The Moatfield.”

Despite one person taking the opportunity to write “Moatfield is boring” in big letters and pinning it to a notice board, other young residents were keen to voice their more constructive views.

Vicky, 13, said: “We come to The Moatfield at least twice a week to go into the play area or to play in the woods. A better play area would be good - one with a really good obstacle course with a climbing frame and monkey bars.”

Lee, 11, added: “A skate park would be great, or maybe cars that you put money in and can go round a track. A wall for graffiti would be good as they all do it over there and cause trouble because they are bored and have nothing to do.”

Although there were few details on when the results of the current suggestions could materialise, one structure planned for Bushey, and possibly The Moatfield, continues to stir up controversy.

As reported by The Watford Observer last week, a £17,000 community shelter and “artistic statue” is planned to be built in Bushey between this summer and early 2010.

At a meeting of the Bushey Crime Reduction Group on Monday, residents almost unanimously ridiculed the proposal and its cost, regardless of Police Community Support Officer Carole Bull and Police Constable Matt Fuller saying the shelters were what young people had asked for.

A consultation regarding the location of the shelter is reported to be starting soon but at the meeting, residents and the group's chairman, Liberal Democrat councillor Anita Gamble, criticised a lack of information regarding the shelter's progress.

In a report published prior to the meeting, Ed Sandham, sports and cultural services manager for Hertsmere Borough Council said a design and construction company was being appointed to make the shelter and that it is still on track to be built by 2010.