Decrease in spend endangering playgrounds

The Association of Play Industries (API) has warned that more than one public play park is closed every week with councils planning to cut spending on play facilities further this year.

As reported by The Mail on Sunday, a worrying 347 council playgrounds have been closed since 2014, with local authorities having removed 70 playgrounds in the last year alone. The API claims that, by 2020/21, there will have been a decrease in spend on play facilities of 44 per cent since 2017/18.

The key findings of the association’s Nowhere to Play research also reveals that there will be a decrease in spend on playgrounds of more than £13 million each year on average across England, with local authorities estimating a decrease in their spending on playgrounds of £25 million by 2021.

With play facilities a key part of childhood fitness and well-being, the API is seeking a show of support from the government for play and activity, saying investing in playgrounds is crucial in halting the decline of playgrounds and lowering the growing childhood obesity rate.

Mark Hardy, chair of the API, said: ” Something we all took for granted – safe, local and free spaces in which to play – is disappearing. Our latest research shows a very worrying picture indeed and, unless action is taken now, it seems we are in danger of losing playgrounds. Let’s not forget that when a playground is neglected and closed it is often lost forever.”