Investment in play and community spaces brings new life to Bradford neighbourhoods
We have completed major improvements to two community playgrounds in Bradford, following direct feedback from local residents and families.
We have invested £50,000 into our play areas in the last year. A significant amount of this funding has been used to transform the playground at Fagley, one of the largest play spaces we own and surrounded by hundreds of our homes.
This investment is part of our ongoing commitment to creating thriving neighbourhoods and making sure community spaces meet the needs of local people.
Fagley Park already has a junior play area, infant play area, multi-use games area and a dedicated space for teenage girls, which was previously delivered through external funding. Building on earlier improvements to the site, we worked directly with residents to decide how the latest investment should be spent.
Following a consultation with local people, residents identified an inclusive net swing as their top priority, with outdoor gym equipment also proving popular.
Nicky Lannen, Youth Worker at Bradford Youth Service and Patrick Collins, Director of Communities at Incommunities
Through careful planning and procurement, we were able to deliver not only the inclusive swing and gym equipment, but also a new roundabout, seesaw and specialist safety surfacing within budget.
The improved playground is now open and has quickly become a well-used community asset, attracting children, teenagers, parents and local schools throughout the day.
As well as creating more opportunities for play, exercise and social interaction, we hope the investment will encourage greater community ownership of the space and help reduce incidents of vandalism and antisocial behaviour.
We have also delivered a brand-new playground at Crosley Wood. The previous play area was removed as part of a redevelopment programme, and the new facility has been created alongside new affordable homes. We worked closely with developers and customers to make sure the new play area reflected the needs and hopes of local families.
Cllr Ian Walker, Bradford Council's Executive Member for Neighbourhoods and Communities, said: “Engaging with our residents so that they have a say in how they improve local spaces is really important. It's great news that this play facility in Fagley has been improved with the input from residents and young people and we're glad our teams were able to help. We're very grateful to Incommunities for their investment and ongoing support in developing facilities like this which makes a real difference to people's lives.”
Patrick Collins Director of Communities at Incommunities said: "Investing in places where people want to live is just as important as investing in homes. We wanted local residents to help shape these improvements, and the response we received showed just how much these spaces matter to the community.
"The new facilities at Fagley are designed for a wide range of ages and abilities. The inclusive swing, outdoor gym equipment and additional play features mean there is now something for younger children, teenagers and families to enjoy together.
"It's been fantastic to see the playground so well used since it reopened. We want our neighbourhoods to have safe, welcoming spaces where people can come together, be active and build a stronger sense of community."
We own and maintain 18 playgrounds across our neighbourhoods and continue to review opportunities to invest in the sites that deliver the greatest benefit for local communities.
Our future investment will focus on making sure play areas remain safe, accessible and well used, helping to support healthier, stronger and more connected neighbourhoods across Bradford.