MORE than 60 people, many of them children, have played a major role in creating a brand new �50,000 playground on the Hillbrow estate in Letchworth GC. Local residents have been central to the design of the playground from the beginning, first choosing e

MORE than 60 people, many of them children, have played a major role in creating a brand new �50,000 playground on the Hillbrow estate in Letchworth GC.

Local residents have been central to the design of the playground from the beginning, first choosing equipment and landscaping they would like to see and more recently selecting a final design.

The residents, young and old, chose an exciting design from Wicksteed which will include a tube slide, a cableway, a mini cycle track, balancing logs and many other climbing and swinging features.

Work at Hillbrow will take place in the autumn.

North Hertfordshire District Council organised the consultation with Groundwork Hertfordshire.

Councillor Ian Knighton, NHDC's portfolio holder for leisure, said: "We want our play areas to be stimulating for our children. I am delighted that many local people, including children, have taken part in choosing the design, which will provide plenty of adventurous activities and a chance for children to do more of what they tell us they enjoy most - play outside. I am sure it will become an asset to the neighbourhood."

Funding will be provided from the national Playbuilder programme. This supports the development of play areas that are innovative and attractive to children, particularly eight to13-year-olds, and that are inclusive for disabled children.

Playbuilder schemes encourage children to encounter the natural environment while playing, so the Hillbrow design will combine natural play with challenging play opportunities.