City of York Council residents living within the Bishophill ward have voted for £2,500 to be spent on improving the play area on Scarcroft Green and the new piece of play equipment will be installed this week.

An original proposal was made by local residents last year and at a 'walkabout' meeting of the Bishophill ward committee in July this year, local residents and councillors met at Scarcroft Green to discuss the play area. Following agreement to improve the facilities, the council's leisure team have been consulting local children and their parents to find out what type of play equipment they wanted.

The play area, which already includes swings, slides and a balancing beam, will now also include a 'goblin's den'. The 'den' is a brightly-coloured, wooden structure with arches and seats, especially for young children. It allows parents to see their children at all times and stands on a rubber-based safety surface.

Brian Williams, park and open spaces officer, City of York Council said: "This improved play area will ensure that local children will be able to use modern play equipment, in a safe environment. It provides a different dimension to play for the younger age group - and hopefully it will be well used by children in the area."

As well as the improved play area on Scarcroft Green, residents in the Bishophill ward are looking to generally improve youth facilities in the area, including developing a skate park facility in Rowntree Park.

These developments are being considered as part of a council feasibility study in conjunction with York Youth Forum and local youngsters, which is being financed by Bishophill and Knavesmire ward committees.

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