North Rigton school opens new outdoor area in time for children’s return£50,000 Knaresborough play area makeover to begin in NovemberNew zip-wire opens in Knaresborough

A new zip-wire on Fysche Field in Knaresborough is now open.

The zip-wire will be part of a new play area to be built next to Harrogate Borough Council‘s £17m new fitness centre and swimming pool.

The facility is due to be finished by the end of summer 2023 and will have a six-lane 25-metre pool, activity pool with flume, sauna and steam room, fitness suite and studio, spin studio, café, electric car charging points and bicycle storage.

The council said in a statement today it will be built to high environmental standards and include air source heat pumps and solar panels to reduce the carbon footprint.

Once complete, the current pool will be demolished and be replaced by a bigger and better play area with swings, slides and a roundabout.

Conservative councillor Phil Ireland, who represents Knaresborough Aspin and Calcutt ward, said:

“This is a great new addition for Knaresborough and the start of a much wider play area and leisure facility for the town.

“I’m delighted it is now available for young people to use and look forward to the scheme being completed next year.”

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Overgrown play area to be sold off for new housing for disabled people

A disused and overgrown play area in Harrogate is set to be sold off for part of a new housing development for disabled people.

The council-owned play area behind Disability Action Yorkshire’s Claro Road care home will be cleared to make way for three accommodation blocks if the sale and planning permission is agreed.

Members of Harrogate Borough Council’s cabinet will be asked to approve the sale for an undisclosed sum at a meeting next Wednesday before plans are submitted at a later date.

A report to the meeting said:

“The purchaser is a non-profit registered provider offering housing management and support services.

“Disposal of this asset will enable the development of an additional block of flats, providing affordable rent, supported living accommodation, for people with learning and physical disabilities.”

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The plans include 36 flats with a mix of one and two bedrooms at the site, which is near Claro Business Park and St Roberts Catholic Primary School.

Jackie Snape, chief executive at Disability Action Yorkshire, said:

“Whilst we are not the prospective purchaser of this plot of land, we are working in partnership with them.

“Following Monday’s cabinet meeting, and should the purchase be given the green light, we will be in a position soon after to share our exciting plans for the development of our service.”

Harrogate village playpark unveils much-needed makeover

A playpark in North Rigton near Harrogate has completed a full revamp after a two-year fundraising project.

The formerly dilapidated park has been remodelled to make it safer and more inclusive for disabled and older children.

Almscliffe Villages Community Association set up a fundraiser two years ago for the project and received major boosts from local organisations to hit its target.

The community garden playpark now has safer flooring, a tyre activity trail and Sculpan activity cube.

Chairman John Hopkins said;

“We didn’t have the money in the bank to simply get on with the job, but the fantastic response to our fundraising campaign from both the local community and our donors has enabled us to create something that we know will be extremely popular with generations of village children.”

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The completion was aided by a £4,200 donation from The Banks Group, a local property developing company that has its own fund to aid community projects.

A grant was also given by The Liz and Terry Bramall Foundation, a charity which aids a wide variety of community causes.

The playpark is now open for North Rigton families to enjoy with children of all ages.

Brackenfield School in Harrogate opens new adventure play area

A Harrogate independent school has opened a new outdoor play area for nursery children to encourage open-air learning.

Brackenfield School’s new facility includes a ‘garden centre’, mud kitchen and pebble pit complete with weighing scales and spades.

There is also a reading rainforest corner, where children can take their books outside with their friends and read while sitting on log stools.

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The area was designed to present children with challenges, adventures and opportunities for development, whilst interacting with the natural world around them.

Headmaster Joe Masterson said:

“Outdoor learning is one of the four areas of a powerful mission we use to focus our children’s achievements here at Brackenfield School.

“We strive to ensure that while revelling in technology as a means to excite, ignite and redefine learning, a strong sense of balance is also retained for our pupils towards human connection, nature and the outdoors.”