00:00Newcastle City Council has signed off on the proposal for the transformation of four parks,
00:06which will see major upgrades at Blakelow Park, Riverside Country Park in New Bern,
00:10Ellswick Park and City Stadium in Ouseburn. Each site will receive around £250,000 to become a
00:17destination family attractions, complete with audio, visual and sensory equipment,
00:23designed especially for children with disabilities.
00:25Deputy Council Leader Alex Hay said that upgrades will ensure children of all abilities can play side by side,
00:32creating inclusive spaces for local families. In a move to further support accessibility,
00:38children from Hadrian and Percy Headley schools, both specialising in special educational needs,
00:44will help design the new equipment. Seven other neighbourhood playgrounds will also receive £90,000
00:50each for refurbishment. These are located at XLB Close in Gosfath, the Brunswick Recreation Area,
00:57Western Hope Institute, Nunsmoor, Denton-Dean, St Lawrence Road in Biker and Swan's Recreation
01:03Ground in Walker Gate. The move comes as part of a long-standing pledge by the council to improve
01:09all 160 playgrounds in the city, a goal set back in 2018. So far only 66 sites have seen upgrades,
01:16prompting criticism from opposition leaders. Lib Dem Councillor Colin Ferguson welcomed the new
01:22investment but questioned whether the scale was ambitious enough, noting many parks still have
01:27broken equipment and remain fenced off. Council Leader Karen Kilgawa responded saying that after £400
01:33million in budget cuts over the past 14 years, the council chose to prioritise fewer but more impactful
01:40upgrades to ensure accessible, high-quality facilities for all children.
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