A £225,000 project to create a new play area in Basildon, boasting a host of new equipment including a basketball court and outdoor gym, has begun.

Northlands Park will offer more than 40 different play elements when the work is complete, with the equipment allowing more than 200 children to play together.

Alongside the play area will stand a new ball court for football and basketball, an outdoor gym, as well as other exciting ball games.

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This comes two years after the start of the council’s “play review” which is a ten-year programme of approximately £9 million investment in the borough’s play areas.

Sophie Hutchison, a mum to two young children near to Northlands Park, said: “We moved to Basildon in 2019 and Northlands Park was one of the first we visited.

“We felt that the park play area for the children was very dated and old, there were not enough facilities for the number of children who wanted to play there either.

“When I saw that Northlands is getting a new play area I jumped with joy, as this will give the community and parents of Basildon a new opportunity to get their children out into a lovely well-kept park.

“This will also give children a new sense of adventure, so I really can’t wait.”

The existing play area at Northlands Park will close while construction works take place, with the new one expected to be open in March.

The play area proceeds a new skatepark for the park which will come later this year, and follows recent improvements including resurfaced footpaths, a newly-built bridge around the lake, and more than a dozen new angling spots.

This announcement also comes after a £200,000 investment into Lake Meadows play area in Billericay.

Jeff Henry, councillor responsible for health, wellbeing, leisure, arts, and culture, said: “Northlands Park is a fantastic park and one that we’ve invested heavily in over the past two years, and this new play area will only make it even better for residents.

“The variety of play options with the ball games zone as well as the diverse play area will mean our youngsters are spoilt for choice.

“I can’t wait for the new play area to be open and to see how much it will be enjoyed by the children and families of our borough.”