A city play area has been awarded special status as it has been adapted for disabled children and wheelchair users

A city play area has been awarded special status as it has been adapted for disabled children and wheelchair users.
The Adventure Castle play area in Hylands Park is now officially accredited by PiPA, also known as Planning Inclusive Play Areas.
PiPA has been created to help local authorities, landscape architects and planners, as well as families with disabled children, to create inclusive outdoor play areas as well as assessing installed play areas. This is run in conjunction with KIDS, the disabled children's charity.
There are only 18 sites nationally with this accreditation and the play area in Hylands Park is one of only nine that have the top level 'Destination' status.
The play area was created and unveiled in two phases and the second is disabled-friendly, allowing wheelchair users to access the equipment and area. Columbus School and College, a special needs school, was involved with the design process and consultation surrounding the new play area in the city park.
Councillor Bob Massey, Cabinet Member for Parks, said, "I am so pleased to see that the park has been identified by PiPA - it is such an honour for our city and parks.
"As Cabinet Member for Parks in Chelmsford, it is wonderful to see how our leisure areas such as parks are developing to cater for all our city's residents."
The second phase of the play area officially opened in 2013. A number of pieces of equipment have been specifically designed with disabled children in mind. These include an acoustic roller, providing musical stimulation and a cradle swing to share the thrill of speeding through the air with friends.
The play area is located at the northern end of Hylands Estate, close to the Writtle Road car park and toilets, just a short walk away from the House and pleasure gardens.