The Recreation Ground play area project has been given the green light after the major funder confirmed a Pathfinder grant of £45,000 to enable work in the play area to start in February. Children and young people will be able to enjoy the new facilities in the Spring

The Project Group have been working on the Cambridgeshire Play Pathfinder grant application since April when the Recreation Ground Committee first became aware of the grant opportunity.  The objective of the project is to provide a new modern, enlarged, landscaped and re-equipped play area on the Recreation Ground to replace the ageing equipment.

Over the summer three extensive community consultations organised by the project group confirmed overwhelming support for the redevelopment of the play area and provided some clear messages of what was needed. Many requested the retention of the iconic slide and tractor, and this equipment will form a key part of the redeveloped play area. Many responses wanted to see new equipment provided for children over 8, new landscaping provided with places to sit and gather, and a dedicated under 7s area.  The play area design finalised in early October incorporates all these requests and feedback. In all the design includes ten new attractions, and the design can be viewed at www.hisimprec.net

In addition to new equipment and landscaping being provided the entrance to the play area from the Football club access road is being moved to a new position which will be safer for children and a new railed pathway will be provided from the B1049.  The total cost of the project including the new entrance and other boundary works will be around £93,000. This is being funded by the Pathfinder grant of £45,000, capital funding of £20,000 from the Parish Councils, £6,000 from the Rec Committee, a Histon Feast donation of £5,000, other grants of £12,000 and community fundraising of £5,000 by Friends of the Rec.

The Friends of the Rec have organised some fundraising already to meet their target of £5,000, and the next special event is a Spring Ceilidh on Saturday 6th March (info at www.friendsoftherec.co.uk)Neil Davies the project group chair welcomed news of a start date for work’ this is real boost for the villages of Histon and Impington, and it is pleasing that the Play Pathfinder in making the grant award recognised the enormous amount of work put in by the project group’

Explaining further Neil added ‘ the importance of the community consultations was key to the success of the grant applications in particular the enthusiastic involvement of the Junior School children. Our thanks to all the funders and also to Tucker Gardner for their generous sponsorship’.

The Recreation Ground play area will be closed from the end of January to the end of March.  There will be a special opening of the new play area on Sunday 13 June and this will form part of an exciting Rec community fun day being planned.  If any business is interested in sponsoring a new piece of play equipment or anyone wants to help in fundraising please contact Neil Davies on C 232514