Fed-up parents launch appeal to improve children's park in north Leeds

Meanwood Park Playground Appeal: mums, from left: Katy Pollard, Elaine Robertson, Jasmine Headley-Craik, Rachel Hartshorne, Francesca Chappell and Sarah Lawrence. Photo: Richard Walker - www.imagenorth.net

Six mums and a dad have set themselves the task of raising £200,000 to pay for a much-needed transformation of the run-down play area at Meanwood Park.

The group was moved to take action over fears a child could get hurt on the "unsafe" and broken equipment at the nine-year-old park, which they said also gets flooded and boggy in heavy rain.

Under the banner of the Meanwood Park Playground Appeal, they now plan to undertake various fundraising projects over the next ten months as well as appealing to local businesses for help in raising the cash.

Some of the equipment at the run-down park which parents have launched an appeal to revamp.

The parents say they hope to have reached their target by December 2020 and to improve the park in Spring 2021, sorting drainage issues and installing a new play surface and equipment.

Mum-of-two Francesca Chappell, who set up the Appeal, said: “I often take my children to the playground to play and I began to worry that either they or another child would get hurt because of the state the playground is in.

“As council funding for things like playgrounds has been cut dramatically recently, they don’t have the money needed to transform the play area, so the only way to make improvements to the park is to raise the money ourselves, which is why I decided to start this appeal.

“The park itself is such a lovely space and it seems a real shame that the playground has become so dilapidated. Our key goal is to raise the money needed to create a safe and fun playground that will last and be enjoyed by thousands of local children for many years to come.

“We’re really hoping to capture the hearts of local people and businesses to help raise the huge sum of money we need.”

The group has already conducted an online survey to find out what local people want from the play area and has started to liaise with local councillors and businesses.

They have also created a limited number of branded reusable mugs, which are being sold at local markets and retailers to raise money and awareness of the appeal.

For more information or to donate and help out in any way, visit http://meanwoodparkplayground.co.uk, the Facebook Page @MeanwoodParkPlayground or email [email protected].