Compact Adventure Play Zone For Children Under 12 | West Meon Parish Council

West Meon Parish Council has expanded recreational opportunities at the Village Hall by introducing a dedicated adventure playground for children under 12. Previously dominated by a football pitch and outdoor gym used mainly by older children and adults, the site now provides climbing, sliding and exploratory activities, creating a more balanced space that engages younger children while complementing existing sports facilities.

• Adventure play for under-12s, expanding opportunities in a sports-focused recreation space
• Play tower with climbing, tunnels and spiral slide, giving children a sense of challenge and exploration
• Ground-level play panels for quieter, inclusive activities alongside active play
• Segregated area, separating children from adult gym equipment and supporting daily use
• Durable, low-maintenance design meeting BS EN standards and RPII-certified for long-term safety and value

WEST MEON PARISH COUNCIL

West Meon Parish Council represents a rural Hampshire community of around 750 residents. The Council manages shared village facilities and places strong value on protecting the character of its surroundings. As local materials note, “The Meon Valley is very special… we have the Downs, the river, the chalk streams and the fields.” This sense of stewardship shapes the Council’s approach to projects, prioritising sustainable, durable solutions that remain practical to maintain and beneficial for local families.

Go Straight To Image Gallery & Video

Customer Objective

West Meon Parish Council wanted the Village Hall recreation ground to better serve younger children. While the site supported sport and fitness activity, it primarily catered to older users. The Council’s aim was to introduce adventure play for children under 12 that encourages active, imaginative play, while using durable, sustainable materials and a design that remains practical to maintain over the long term.

Consultation

During the Council’s consultation, the focus was on turning their ambition for play provisions for younger children into a practical site design. A central Jigsaw Tower was proposed to provide climbing, platforms, and a spiral slide, offering challenge while making efficient use of space and leaving room for future enhancements. Ground-level panels, including noughts and crosses and a maze, were included to provide interactive, problem-solving play alongside active adventure. 3D renderings illustrated how the design would fit the site and meet the Council’s objectives.

CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS: TRANSFORMING A GRASS CORNER FOR A TOWER SYSTEM

State Of Area Before Installation:

• Grassed site with limited safe play opportunities for younger children.
• Few dedicated play features, offering little variety or challenge for under-12s.
• Open layout with minimal natural or built elements, providing no defined play zones or sense of adventure.

Although the recreation ground was well used for sport and outdoor fitness, younger children had few options to engage in stimulating, age-appropriate play. A new playground was needed to introduce variety, structure, and safe, adventurous activities within the existing landscape.

Playground Equipment Choices

Play Tower

The modular design features three roofed towers, six entry-exit points, tunnels, and a spiral slide, encouraging exploration, physical challenge, and efficient use of the compact site.

Play Panels

A noughts and crosses panel and a maze panel provide problem-solving and interactive engagement, offering quieter play that complements the tower and creates a balanced, inclusive environment.

Safety, Sustainability And Durability

• Metal post shoes – simplify maintenance and allow future expansion
• Timber elements – FCC-approved, 20-year guarantee on uprights, complement rural aesthetics
• Guardrails – provide safety while fitting the natural design
• Sustainable Playtec PCR materials – 80% recycled and fully recyclable
• Responsible manufacturing – designed and produced at Creative Play’s North Wales workshop, largely solar-powered and following circular economy principles

All other equipment is durable and low-maintenance, with annual Net Zero audits supporting ongoing environmental performance.

Examples of metal post shoes:

IMPLEMENTATION: COST SAVING WITH EQUIPMENT HEIGHT AND SURFACING DEPTH

Playground Design Approach

Equipment heights were kept low to suit younger children and minimise the depth of safety surfacing required, ensuring compliance with BS EN standards while controlling costs. Green fleck wet-pour was selected to blend with the rural setting, provide a durable surface, and reduce installation expenses.

Playground Installation

Access to the site required careful planning, as all equipment had to be delivered via the Village Hall car park and moved through a gate and across a 270 m grass path. By coordinating vehicle movements, delivery timing, and on-site assembly, the team installed the playground while protecting the grass and surrounding community spaces. An RPII-certified inspection then confirmed compliance with BS EN safety standards prior to opening.

RESULTS: A WIDELY-USED OUTDOOR PLAY AREA FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY

The playground now provides adventure play for around 200 local children, expanding the Village Hall recreation ground beyond its traditional sports focus and making the space more welcoming for families. Climbing areas, tunnels and the spiral slide encourage physical activity alongside imaginative and social play, giving younger children a dedicated place to explore within the wider site.

The playground is also supporting village hall events and community activities, attracting families and increasing use of the surrounding facilities. Durable materials, impact-absorbing surfacing and a low-maintenance design ensure the area remains safe and practical to manage, demonstrating long-term value from public investment.

Maintenance & Future Opportunities

The West Meon Village Hall playground has been designed to remain practical to maintain over the long term. Timber uprights feature long-term guarantees and metal post shoes allow individual components to be replaced as needed. The wet-pour surface provides durable impact protection and can be easily repaired using Creative Play’s Surfacing Repair Kits, helping the Council manage minor wear efficiently. The modular Jigsaw tower also allows future expansion or the addition of new play elements, giving the Parish Council flexibility to adapt the space as community needs evolve.

INSPIRED BY THIS PARISH COUNCIL ADVENTURE PLAY PROJECT?

Local authorities looking to enhance play provision are invited to contact Creative Play for site assessments, design advice, and guidance on BS EN-compliant adventure play solutions. Case studies and project references are available to demonstrate long-term value and community engagement outcomes.

Visit the Contact Page or get in touch with us by email or telephone via [email protected] | 01244 375 627

Find Inspiration From The Images Below