'Match-point' for children's playground

Monday 19 February 2018

Families in St. Mary are hoping the Parish will get the green light for their first community playground.

Plans have been submitted to replace one of the two tennis courts at St. Mary’s Youth and Community Centre with a children’s playground; complete with a wobble balance beam, swings, climb net, see-saw as well as a 'tower and turret' adventure play facility.

The idea to provide more facilities for children and families was agreed in a parish meeting almost two years ago, with an offer by the parish to match ‘pound for pound’ the money raised by the Community and Youth Centre Management Committee, with a limit of £20,000 investment.

The plans were initially for it to be built on a grassy area next to the community centre, which was given planning permission last year, but the project team submitted new plans last month as they felt one of the tennis courts would be a better location as they are “under-used” and one would be sufficient enough to meet current demand. The court also provides a levelled surface, drainage and lighting so is therefore a cheaper option.

Pictured: Proposed plan for a new children's playground at St. Mary's Youth and Community Centre. 

Constable Juliette Gallichan told Express: “The maintenance of the tennis courts is very onerous as a lot of moss grows on them. When they are being used it’s not so bad, but when they are not [as in this case] the moss quickly grows. Also the plans only take up half the court area so it leaves room to expand in future, where we could put up a chalet or shelter as you can see the péntanque pitch from there.”

“Péntanque is very popular in the parish and this will enable families to come up and the children play on the playground while the adults play pétanque, which the children may watch.”

Constable Gallichan adds that the development will enable “different sections of the community to all use the facilities” at the centre which will “have much more benefit and keep the community mixing, which I’m very keen on and have tried to do with the community events we’ve held in the parish.”

Pictured: Aerial image of tennis courts at St. Mary's Youth and Community Centre where new playground is earmarked for (course Google Maps).

The ball is now in the planning department’s court.

If the project is given permission, Constable Gallichan hopes the new facility it will be installed over the summer months, ready to be used later this year so families will no longer have to look to the neighbouring parishes of St. Ouen or St. John for outside fun.