Fatfield play area gets £225,000 makeover

A Washington play area has been given a £225,000 makeover, complete with sensory garden, zip wire and inclusive play equipment, as work continues to upgrade play facilities across Sunderland. 

The upgraded play area in Bonemill Lane, Fatfield, which is formally known as Harraton Park play area, now includes new infant and junior swings, interactive items and inclusive multi-unit, roundabout, swing, seesaw and a springie.

Improvements have also seen a new woodland walk, the addition of three pieces of outdoor gym equipment and the refurbishment of an existing embankment slide.

Sunderland City Council has invested £225,000 in the upgrade, with £140,000 of this from Washington Area Committee in the form of £100,000 from the Neighbourhood Capital Investment Programme and £40,000 Neighbourhood Funding. The remaining £85,000 came from the Parks and Open Spaces Project.

Councillor Sean Laws, Chair of Washington Area Committee, said: "It's great to see this fantastic play area nearing completion in time for the better weather and the Easter holidays.

"Unfortunately the incredibly wet weather we've had of late means that some of the grassed areas on the site haven't been able to open yet as its been too wet for the grass to germinate. But we hope to be able to open these remaining areas in the next few weeks.

"In the meantime the woodland walk, sensory garden, outdoor gym equipment, existing slide and all of the equipment on the artificial turf surfacing are all open and ready and waiting for children across our community to enjoy."

The refurbishment of the play park is the latest in a line of improvements to play parks across the city, with 26 play areas in the process of being upgraded as part of Sunderland City Council's City Play and Urban Games improvement programme.

This has seen the City Council investingin a mix of new play equipment or in some cases repairs to existing facilities, as well as new surfacing and inclusive equipment such as inclusive roundabouts and springies that can be used by all children including those with special educational needs and disabilities.

20 March 2024