Plans to transform four Deeping St Nicholas and Hop Pole parks into bustling community hubs complete with play equipment, multi-use game area, orchard and allotment revealed

Exciting plans to transform four parish play parks into bustling community hubs have been revealed.

A multi-use games area (MUGA) – which can be used for five-a-side football, netball, basketball and tennis – as well as swings, slides, zip wires, roundabouts and sensory equipment are among the £250,000 project proposals for the Deeping St Nicholas area.

And campaigners behind the scheme also hope to create a community hub with cabins for public use, an orchard and allotment, as well as a picnic areas – which could even be used for barbecues.

Residents will also get the chance to have their say at a public consultation event later this year.

“It’s all very exciting,” said Rob Jarvis, who is behind the the plans along with fellow Deeping St Nicholas parish councillors Debs and Andy Croyle.

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“We want to create something that can be used by everyone, from babies to adults. It will all be disabled friendly as well.

“It’s a lot of money but what better use is there? This is for the community; your kids, your grandkids.”

The four play parks in line for a revamp are Littleworth Park, which can be found in the village centre by the A1175, Hop Pole Park which is opposite the former Blue Bell pub, St Nicholas Park, within the village off Haywain Drive, and Campain’s Lane Park which can be found on the outskirts of the village close to St Nicholas House.

The four areas all have ‘different needs’, according to Rob.

Plans for Littleworth Park include the MUGA, complete with low-level floodlighting and fencing to protect nearby homes from any potential glare, cabins and a picnic area.

This will also be the site of the proposed orchard – thanks to a pledge of 400 trees from the village’s Good Neighbour Scheme – and allotment.

“It would be a community allotment where children can sow goods and reap them for harvest festival, like a grow-your-own foodbank,” said Andy.

It is hoped the Hop Pole and Campain’s Lane sites can have swings, climbing frames, basketball nets, roundabouts, goalposts and more, as well as the potential for zip wires.

At St Nicholas Park it is proposed to remove the exercise equipment and replace it with new swings, a roundabout and climbing frame, as well as a 9ft ball wall which would have goal post, cricket stump and target markings on it.

Cradle swings and sensory areas are planned to be installed at all four play areas.

Three of the sites already have some play equipment installed, but it is believed there is an appetite for and update.

“It’s a growing area. Plans have been passed for more than 300 houses in the parish, plus the existing dwellings,” said Andy.

The scheme is expected to cost around £250,000 with organisers already looking into a number of funding schemes.

Local businesses will also be offered sponsorship opportunities, with plaques thanking those who donate placed on park benches.

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“It’s all community led and we’ll be asking the community to get involved, whether it’s digging the allotment or helping out in some way,” Rob continued.

“We’re planning a public consultation in May and there’ll be suppliers giving demos of what sort of things can be there.

“There will need to be a lot of work to get Littleworth to happen, like planning permission, public consultations.

“But we want to involve residents and the Good Neighbour scheme, Neighbourhood Watch and other groups are all behind it.”

It is also proposed to make all materials used as eco friendly as possible, using sustainable wood, while private hire of cabins and the MUGA equipment could also bring in revenue streams to help with upkeep.

“I’m very excited by the plans and proposals Rob has put forward,” Debs said.

“I fully support them and look forward to seeing them come to fruition for the benefit of the community, across all ages.”

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