Experiences for different ages, play opportunities for children of different abilities, and a bespoke RAF-inspired structure – how two ageing playgrounds became one complete community play offer.
With new housing bringing more families into the area, Fradley Parish Council needed to rethink its existing playground provision – a large play area split between Barlow Drive and Worthington Road. Working in collaboration with Lichfield District Council, they wanted one section to become a destination for younger children while the other offered greater challenge for older users. Inclusive play was also an essential element the council wanted to introduce.
£250,000+ investment across two existing playgrounds
Bespoke six-tower RAF-inspired play plane created specifically for Fradley
Inclusive play opportunities designed to bring children of different abilities into the experience
Two complementary play environments offering discovery for younger children and adventure challenges for older ones
Designs tailored to each site, responding to existing gradients, retained features and access requirements
FRADLEY PARISH COUNCIL
Fradley is a rapidly growing rural community in Staffordshire approaching 4,000 residents, with major developments bringing many more families into the area. The parish council wanted to use a substantial investment in its playgrounds to respond to the growth.
Moving beyond a simple replacing of ageing equipment, they wanted to create better play experiences for different ages, improve inclusive provision, preserve the open, green character of the sites and generally make better use of its two dedicated outdoor play areas.
QUICKVIEW OF FRADLEY PARISH COUNCIL PLAYGROUND INC SPITFIRE:
Using a substantial investment, the aim was to make the two areas work together as part of a wider offer bringing more play value to the community while giving Fradley something that distinctively reflected its local character.
Much of the surrounding housing was developed on former airbase land, so the council was keen to reflect that heritage in the new playground, for a stronger sense of community connection. That piece of local history would go on to inspire one of the project’s most distinctive features…
Consultation
During the consultation, a Creative Play Outdoor Play Expert looked at how the two areas of the Fradley site could be made to work together for serving different age groups. A survey highlighted gradients at Barlow Drive that would influence the layout, while discussions with the council also identified features worth retaining, including the sand area, and the zip wire and planetarium at Worthington Road.
“The consultation gave our designers a clear understanding of the areas and what the council wanted to achieve”, explains Outdoor Play Expert Tim, “and from there, they could shape a proposal around the character and practical constraints of each space while keeping the wider vision for the project in mind”.
Funding A Two-Site Playground Investment
The project was delivered in phases, initially supported by £100,000 of Section 106 funding, with a further £100,000 becoming available once work had begun. With additional council financing, the completed scheme represented a combined investment of more than £250,000.
A phased approach is a frequent way of working with local authorities at Creative Play. “It meant the council could plan both playgrounds as one cohesive project, even though funding for the second site wasn’t available at the outset”, says Tim. “That allowed the two areas to be designed to complement one another rather than being developed as separate projects”.
CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS: CREATING VARIETY ACROSS A SPLIT SITE FOR A DIVERSE COMMUNITY
The Installation Brief:
Removing outdated equipment across two existing play areas
Working around existing gradients and ground levels
Retaining and incorporating existing features into the new designs
Integrating inclusive play into the main playground provision
Reflecting Fradley’s RAF heritage through bespoke design
One of the key decisions was to give each area a distinct role, rather than trying to create the same play experience at both.
Playground Area 1: Barlow Drive – Discovery Through Movement & Inclusivity
“At Barlow Drive, the space developed with younger children in mind, the emphasis is on discovery through movement”, highlights Playground Designer Chelbie. “We used a Three-Tower Jigsaw System to provide the main climbing challenge, with a Jungle Climber Mini inviting children to develop these skills further”.
“In the adjoining sandpit, a pre-existing section of the playground, we added a Sand Digger and Play Crane with Bucket and Pulley to give children different kinds of movement and discovery, such as scooping, lifting, pouring and building. This lets them test what happens when they move materials from one place to another, encourages problem solving skills by working outhow the equipment operates, and even spark imagination in turning simple activities into their own games”.
Play For All: Inclusive Design
Inclusive play was a major part of the Barlow Drive design, with equipment chosen to create genuinely engaging experiences for children with different abilities.
“The Caterpillar Jigsaw Tower was developed in collaboration with a specialist school, which gave us the opportunity to understand what would make the structure genuinely enjoyable from the children’s perspective,” says Product Designer Amy. “That input helped shape the design, from the way children move through the tower to how they interact with the different play elements.”
The resulting tower incorporates a wheelchair-accessible ramp, giving children a route into the structure and opportunities to explore its different levels and play features. A wide slide allows two children to descend together, creating the option for a friend or carer to accompany a child who might otherwise find using a slide difficult. Several sensory play panels add further opportunities to explore the tower through touch and interaction.
Two Basket Swings provide another shared play experience, each accommodating several children at once and positioned at a height designed to make wheelchair transfers easier. A Wheelchair-Inclusive Picnic Table also provides somewhere for children and adults to sit, socialise and spend time together.
“It was important that these weren’t simply accessible additions,” Amy explains. “They needed to be enjoyable pieces of play equipment in their own right, giving children different ways to move and take part.”
The result is a richer play offer where children with different abilities can explore, challenge themselves and enjoy the playground in different ways.
Playground Area 2: Worthington Road – Challenge Through Adventure & Local Heritage
At Worthington Road, the focus shifts towards older children and challenge through adventure. The existing zip wire and planetarium were retained, while new equipment including a Three-Tower Jigsaw with Tubular Slide, Cone Climber 3000 and Jungle Climber Combi introduces more demanding climbing, navigation and physical challenges.
“For older children, adventure is about giving them choices. They can decide which route to take, which challenges they want to tackle and how much they want to push themselves,” says Playground Designer Chelbie. “We wanted the playground to offer enough variety that children could come back to it as their confidence and physical skills develop, and find new ways to use it.”
A natural waypoint between the structures is provided by an Octavia Shelter, giving children somewhere to pause and socialise, while the Bug Hotel brings a little of Fradley’s rural setting into the play experience.
“It gives children the opportunity to stop, look closely at what’s around them and use what they find as inspiration for their own imaginative play.”
Bringing Heritage Into Play
Fradley’s RAF heritage is an important part of the surrounding community, with much of the housing around the playground developed on former airbase land while the nearby Lichfield base still forms a strong part of the area’s identity. That history inspired the site’s most distinctive feature – a bespoke piece of play equipment created specifically for the local community.
The Fradley Spitfire
Based on the iconic Spitfire, the bespoke play plane is unlike anything available from a standard catalogue. Its six play tower platforms form the structure of the aircraft, with the RAF-inspired design brought to life using dark green Playtec PCR and black non-slip EkoGrip flooring.
“But this is much more than a striking centrepiece” explains Product Designer Amy, “the plane is designed to invite children in at different levels of confidence and ability. Stairs provide a straightforward route into the structure, while a Net Climber and Climbing Wall offer more challenging ways to get on board. The platforms have also been kept at a moderate height, making it suitable for younger, as well as older children”.
Once inside, the imaginative details take over. A Control Panel and Bubble Window form a cockpit, with a propeller at the front completing the aircraft design. Unlike the real thing, this Spitfire has had a playground upgrade – an evacuation slide that gives children an exciting way to make their escape.
“Children can climb, navigate and explore the structure before turning it into the setting of their own RAF missions and adventures. The result is a playground piece that combines physical challenge, imaginative play and local identity in a single experience”.
IMPLEMENTATION: REIMAGINING EXISTING SITES AND NAVIGATING LANDSCAPE
At Barlow Drive, the site’s changing levels influenced the positioning and installation of the new equipment. The survey established how each element needed to be positioned across the site, with longer timber sections used where necessary to accommodate the gradients. The existing sandpit was retained.
At Worthington Road, existing equipment was removed to make way for the new layout. Access along the road was straightforward, with ample room for the installation team and equipment. The council completed any tree trimming needed to ensure clear access to the site before work began.
Safety surfacing was installed within the immediate vicinity of each piece of equipment – Woodland Mix Recycled Rubber Mulch was laid at depths determined by the BS EN 1177 critical fall height requirements of each item. The remaining areas were left predominantly as grass, retaining the open, green character of the existing site.
RESULTS: A LOCAL HISTORY INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY PLAY DESTINATION
The completed project has turned two established play areas into a connected play offer with considerably more character, choice and longevity. Instead of replacing ageing equipment on a like-for-like basis, the parish council used the opportunity to rethink what its playgrounds can provide for a growing community.
There is now more to discover, more to challenge children and more to bring families together – from the physical and imaginative play at Barlow Drive to the adventurous Worthington Road playground and its bespoke Fradley Spitfire. The investment also gives the community something that feels genuinely its own, with local heritage brought into the play experience.
Most importantly, children don’t have to be the same age, have the same abilities or want to play in the same way to enjoy the playground together. The two sites – connected by distinctive hedge archways – give families the freedom to spend time there together while allowing each child to find their own experience within it.
Maintenance & Future Opportunities
The specification of robust, weather-resistant materials across the site has been carefully selected to ensure the playgrounds remain low maintenance for the council. To support ongoing management, Creative Play supplied a detailed operations and maintenance manual, providing clear guidance for day-to-day upkeep and longer-term care.
Looking ahead, the design allows for future expansion without major disruption. The use of modular systems such as Creative Play’s Jigsaw Towers means additional elements can be introduced over time as needs evolve, offering a flexible and cost-effective way to enhance the play space while retaining the integrity of the existing installation.
INSPIRED BY THIS LOCAL COMMUNITY PLAYGROUND SUCCESS STORY?
Every playground project brings its own combination of users, site constraints, budget and community priorities. Understanding how these factors work together can help you create more from your investment. Creative Play can bring those considerations together to make the most of your existing space and available budget.
Discuss your playground plans with our team and arrange a site visit to explore what’s possible for your space.
Contact Creative Play today for a free consultation! Visit the Contact Page or get in touch with us by email or telephone via [email protected] | 01244 375 627
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