Community funded play area opens

A community funded park near Kendal has opened, after a a crowdfunding appeal helped raise the £60,000 necessary for its creation.

The community group Oxenholme Play Area Development helped to raise funds for the project through a crowdfunding appeal to add to a £25,000 contribution from South Lakeland District Council (SLDC), £5,000 from Kendal Town Council and other funding from local councillors’ member budgets, charitable trusts, leisure organisations and local company donations.

Oxenholme Play Area Development ran a successful Just Giving crowdfunding appeal last year that helped raise enough money to add a ‘space net’ climbing area to the scheme, which also includes brand new slides, swings, climbing frames, seating and shelters.

Emma Turner, chair of the Oxenholme Play Area Development, said: “We're close to Kendal but not in Kendal, so we're a little bit isolated and if the children wanted to go to a park they'd have to go on the bus or in a car. There's nowhere else in the village that families can come and meet and play and let off steam.

“It has been a real community effort and lots of people have got involved, contributing funding and giving ideas about what they’d like to see in the park. It should be something the whole community can be proud of because they have played such a big part in making this happen.”

Silvia Emmott, chair of South Lakeland District Council, added: “There are play activities for all ages, so there's play activities for toddlers and play activities for teenagers and i think that's really excellent.”