Newlarks Residents Association
covering issues in St Catherines Court and Woodlark Close in Ipswich
Play area page
The history
Adjacent to St Catherines Court was a piece of waste ground, which we thought would be ideal for a small play area for our children giving them somewhere safe to play on the actual estate, suitable especially for the younger children and busy mums who have not got the time to hike to the bigger parks further away. Also for the slightly older boys to just go and kick a ball around (without smashing windows and damaging cars, plants etc in the estate
)
We first proposed this about 11 years ago and it has taken all this time to; find out who the land actually belonged too, (once this was resolved Ipswich Borough Council regained ownership from Housing 21 and now IBC lease the land to Orwell Housing on a peppercorn rent of £1.00 per annum), have IBC's and OHA's solicitors agree to the terms of leasing the land, have IBC's consent to build a play area on the land, etc etc. 
It’s amazing and very very frustrating how long all that takes
5 years ago I asked play equipment company, Playdale, to come and design a play area to our requirements. This consisted of a small 5-a-side football area and a separate under 7’s area. For this area, which is quite compact, we wanted as much equipment as we could safely install on there so in consulations with the children we decided on a multi-climbing frame, mini seesaw, a spinner, a play panel and an all important bench for the parents to sit while the children are playing
This play area will be developed in 4 phases
Phase 1 - under 7's area
Phase 2 - goal post installation
Phase 3 - Landscaping around the development
Phase 4 - purchase and installation of a swing unit
See 'Katesblog page' for updates of the final few months as it all came together!
Almost there!
November started with C & W Fencing LTD from Manningtree Essex coming in and erecting 60 meters of 2.4 meter high chain link fence which has sectioned off the football area. As soon as we can we will rotovate the land and put some grass seed down once this has established we will install the goal posts.
7th November 2005 the Board from Local Network Fund approved our application for a grant for the under 7's area.
What a fantastic day!December 2005 we received the cheque for £7,000 from Suffolk ACRE (Local Network Fund) and booked the job!
24th January 2007 Bertie and Jake, Playdale's A team, completed the under 7's area and even though I say so myself it looks fantastic. A few pictures of the equipment being installed are below.
At a later date we may install a swing unit but this is depending on more funds being raised.
Photo's of the play area going up
At last the lorry arriving - NRA have waited 10 years for this moment!
Jake and Bertie 'Playdales finest' installation guys (AKA the A team)
I am not standing there cracking the whip honestly!!
Almost there, wow it looks weird after seeing it on paper for all these
years and now it is actually here and up, I dare not blink incase I have
dreamt it all!
The end product of phase 1 and some very
childrenOur sincere thanks go to Suffolk ACRE's Local Network Fund for awarding us £7,000, to Councillor Rawlingson who gave us £5,000 out of his locality budget, our residents who partook in the Newlarks 'play area lottery' syndicate, finally Mr Brown and Bob Faulkner who each donated £20 to make this project possible. THANK YOU
The newly installed goal post
Oh dear a mole attack!!
The second goal post newly installed
Just starting the landscaping of the seating area
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