Work has started this week to create an exciting and imaginative playground which it is hoped will pull people into Appleby.
A total of £102,500 has been raised over a period of about 18 months to fund the project which will see the installation of 15 new play items, including a zip wire, two multi-play towers, a climbing pyramid, inclusive roundabout and a rope swing.
A spokeswoman for the project said: “Without the community support and backing from the town council this would not have been possible.
“It really is amazing that it has been achieved in 18 months. I think we all thought it would take longer. It has been a huge community effort.”
The George V play area, which is managed by Westmorland and Furness Council, was in need of refurbishment, as some of the equipment was over 30 years old and was looking very tired.
Work started to transform the playground on Monday with the removal of all the old equipment, which was described as being in a “very sad and rundown” state.
Sally Ballantyne, Appleby’s police community support officer, got involved in trying to get something going for the children after being approached by town resident Kelly Cannon who works at Appleby Grammar School as a teaching assistant.
She said that they were having to travel to nearby Bolton to play on a better park as there was nothing for them in Appleby which felt safe.
Last week, before work started on the new playground, out of four swings, there was only one in working order. “Let’s do something about,” was Ms Ballantyne’s response.
Support from Appleby Town Council was then sought and, supported by a small band of local residents, a fundraising initiative was launched.
Named as the Platinum Playground Project, the first event was held over the weekend of the Queen’s platinum jubilee and involved the serving of cream teas.
With nearly £80,000 received from a number of grant funding bodies, an additional £30,000 was raised through local fundraising events and donations.
The fundraising committee had organised a number of events over the past 18 months, including Easter, Halloween and Christmas parties, bingo nights, cream teas, duck races and a Feel Good Friday event.
Local organisations and businesses had also been extremely generous in supporting the appeal, in particular Appleby Rotary Club and NFU Mutual.
And a private donation of £10,000 came from a legacy left by Fred McHugh bequested to Appleby Rotary Club to be used for the benefit of Appleby residents.
The spokeswoman added: “The Rotary have been amazing. They have also held events — they have been brilliant.”
Designs were received from seven companies and the project was awarded by a unanimous vote to HAGS UK, who have been installing playgrounds for over 75 years.
It is hoped that the new playground will be open for business in early April, just after Easter, weather permitting.
Although it is unclear whether the play area will officially be renamed as the Platinum Playground, it will be mentioned on its signs.
