Tuesday 19th March, 2024

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

23/09/17 About 1 minute
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.

Recent Articles

Over 200 arrests made for drink and drug driving offences in December
Over 200 arrests made for drink and drug driving offences in December

Essex Roads Policing Officers have made 126 arrests on suspicion of driving whilst over the alcohol limit, made 95 arrests for drug driving offences and 36 arrests for failure to provide.

When are Junior Doctors striking in Chelmsford?
When are Junior Doctors striking in Chelmsford?

Junior doctors at all major hospitals in the mid and south Essex area are scheduled to strike for three days, starting at 7am on Wednesday, 20 December, and ending at 7am on Saturday, 23 December.

How to contact Chelmsford City Council over Christmas and New Year
How to contact Chelmsford City Council over Christmas and New Year

Here's how to contact Chelmsford City Council over the busy festive period.

Events

Berliner Philharmoniker Live: New Year's Eve Concert
Berliner Philharmoniker Live: New Year's Eve Concert

Siegmund in Richard Wagner’s Walküre is a signature role for Jonas Kaufmann. The world-renowned tenor is passionate, radiant and combative in his portrayal of the tragic hero at the centre of a love triangle.

Chelmsford Half Marathon - March 2024
Chelmsford Half Marathon - March 2024

Chelmsford Half Marathon / Race Weekend is the major road closed running event in Chelmsford, Essex.

The start and finish is at Anglia Ruskin University, outside the Student Union Building.

Post Office Scandal: The Inside Story
Post Office Scandal: The Inside Story

Journalist and Broadcaster Nick Wallis tells the true story of how hundreds of innocent people fought to clear their names after being pursued by the Post Office through the criminal courts.

Ria Lina: Riawakening
Ria Lina: Riawakening

In her debut tour, Ria tackles the issues of coming out of a global pandemic, divorce, dating in a new digital world, motherhood and what it really means to be a woman.