Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Ducketts Common playground
Is anyone else really disappointed at the missed opportunity with the new playground on Ducketts Common? Hats off for the new safer and less messy floor surface and the increase in number of swings. But that huge climbing frame - I've never seen one child on it, it takes up a huge amount of space and yet all you can do is climb up it if you're an older child. No bridge, slide etc - the other wooden one was great. There is now only one really small slide that any child over 2 wouldn't be interested in and a new seesaw. A lot of wasted space - they could have put a sandpit in and some bouncy animals like the old ones they had before. It's such a shame. I notice in Clissold Park they put in new equipment by the same company and then a community campaign managed to get them to rip it out and replace with better wooden stuff! So you never know!
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Stuart on
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Couldn't agree more (and have already posted on the same line in the Duckets Common discussion). One other point - why did they not expand it and use that useless 'picnic' area next to it which just serves as a gathering point for gangs? Given the human traffic that goes through DC, they had a great opportunity to create a real focal point for families where kids could go and play for ages and parents could relax etc. (as in Priory Park). Instead, they took the token route. A real shame. Though we should nevertheless point out that getting anything at all was a real achievement by the Friends of Duckett Common and these posts are not aimed at them!
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Permalink Reply by Emma S on
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Absolutely (sorry, didn't see the Ducketts Common discussion, am new to the site). I have emailed the council and keep meaning to join the Friends but have a feisty toddler and a newborn with special needs so have my hands a bit full at the moment! You just wonder if people with children actually design these things...
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Permalink Reply by matt on
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This playground refurb was rushed through at lightening speed with little or no consultation. There's even confusion as to how much it cost. Friends of DC say £30,000 and a councillor reckons £45,000. Either way, you don't get much for that amount of money.
Was down at Clissold Park recently and noticed that the playground refurb was completely messed up as far as equipment installed is concerned. Our kids were bored & confused by the choice so we left after 5mins!
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Permalink Reply by Liz on
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Finsbury Park playground was redesigned with the input of children, I believe, and time was taken to make sure that it was installed with care. For this reason perhaps, it is wildly popular with kids. Chestnuts Park also seems to have got it right as my two love the equipment down there and on warm days it is always packed. It isn't a matter of just putting up a load of new stuff ordered from a catalogue but about user input and good design. Still FoDC is open to anyone to join their mailing list, contact adam@tao.org.uk
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Yes, Finsbury Park play area is excellent. They had loads of money to spend though. But they spent time with consultation, as you say. No rush job there!
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Permalink Reply by Jonathan Vellapah on
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The refurb was down to the parks who used a bit resources to get it improved, which I think was great. At least something has been done.
Next steps with the friends is to try and get a good constructive/sustainable plan in place, rather than a piece meal effort.
Worki9ng on trying to achive this.
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I had exactly the same thought as soon as I saw the new equipment. It's just style over practicality - again. The old DC was really run down, but at least the climbing frame was good for most ages. Now there's nothing much for toddlers, and the only slide is really tiny. I didn't realise the Stokie equipment was changed after a protest. Perhaps that could work here?
Fiona
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Permalink Reply by Adam on
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Thanks for everyone who has given feedback on the new playground. As Matt pointed out the only way that the decaying old playground was going to be replaced in the short-term, was via an under-spend in the Parks Department. The Friends Group was contacted and we agreed to go ahead with a new playground even though there would not be time for a consultation - otherwise the money would have been lost.
The new playground is by no means perfect and the small slide is really not great, but everytime I go past the playground it is full of children and the huge climbing frame appears to be very popular.
The Friends of Ducketts Common has its first meeting with Lew Taylor from Haringey (who project managed the new playground) this Thursday at one of our monthly meetings. It is taking place from 7-8pm at Harringay United Church, N8 (corner of Green Lanes and Allison Road). Everyone is welcome to attend the meeting and I'm sure Lew will be very glad to hear as much feedback about the playground as possible.
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