BASINGSTOKE & DEANE BC - Three borough parks open new facilities for family fun

Published: 04 May 2021

Three popular borough parks are now back in action for family fun following major improvements by the borough council.

A mix of children’s play facilities and exciting new equipment and circuits including pump tracks, parkour tracks and a skate park have all been installed at War Memorial Park, Beggarwood Park and Popley Community Park in time to welcome visitors for the summer ahead.

The exciting new facilities have already received great feedback from local people of all ages and all three parks have been very busy, particularly at weekends.

Visitors are advised to follow COVID-19 social distancing guidelines, despite the relaxing of lockdown restrictions, and plan to use the facilities during quieter periods if possible.

War Memorial Park will benefit from four major projects, two of which are now open for use. The existing skatepark has been removed and a brand new facility installed to replace it. The eagerly anticipated skate park opened over the weekend alongside a new pump track for use by bike and scooter riders and skateboarders.

Next to open at the town centre park will be a parkour area to provide an obstacle course for climbing, running and jumping. This is expected to open during May. The children’s play area is also being improved on the site of the previous well-used one and will bring exciting new equipment for children to enjoy.

At Beggarwood Park, the play area has been extended with new equipment, including swings and climbing frames, for children aged up to 12. A pump track is also now open where BMX fans can sharpen their bike skills on the new circuit of rollers, berms and jumps. It can also be used for skateboards, rollerblades, scooters and mountain bikes. A Wild Zone has replaced Beggarwood’s old timber maze and encourages children to explore the natural world.

At Popley Community Park, children can now enjoy a new play area, with separate zones for toddlers and juniors. A separate teen zone includes a parkour course for running, jumping and climbing over obstacles. There’s also an outdoor fitness circuit for exercise by visitors of all ages.

The park now has new perimeter fencing, seating, improved footpaths, flower and hedge planting and the overflow car park has been resurfaced.

The improved facilities follow public consultations where local people were invited to give their views on the type of equipment and the improvements they wanted to see installed at all three parks.

Find out more at www.basingstoke.gov.uk/parks