CHILDREN in Runfold Avenue may be getting a new play area if the North Luton Area Board approve their application for funding.
A project to upgrade the ‘unattractive and under-used’ children’s play area at the open space will cost £54,999 in total, and the amount to be requested from the area board at a meeting on June 11 is £2,500.
Groundwork Luton & Bedfordshire is managing the project, and will be able to secure £50,000 of funding from WREN’s Landfill Communities Fund if it can provide third party funding of £5000.
Groundwork’s senior community project officer Geoff Bunce said: “We are quite hopeful we will be successful for this bid. WREN have provided us with funding for a number of previous projects. Runfold Avenue open space is the last of three areas along the River Lea to be upgraded. Some of the equipment is a little bit outdated and so children don’t use it. The new equipment will be a lot more exciting and interesting and more fitting for the riverside surroundings.
“We hope that if it all goes ahead, the project would be completed by the autumn and hopefully it will see more children make use of the area.”
Groundwork Luton & Bedfordshire is working with Friends of Icknield and Runford Park and Luton Borough Council on the project have also applied to London Luton Airport Community Trust Fund for a further £2,500.
The current play area, has surfacing which the project leaders would like to replace with turf. Eight new items of play equipment would be installed including toddler and junior swings, a supernova, multi-play climbing frame, slides and a spinner bowl.
The fences will be cleaned down and repainted, and the picnic benches will be refurbished and relocated.