One of Jersey’s parks has been extended, bringing with it a new play area, paths and animal habitats, with more in the works.

The playing fields to the west of Coronation Park officially opened on Tuesday 22 September in a ceremony which saw Infrastructure Minister Jonathan Renouf welcome excited children to the new area.

The new park has a sandpit, wooden obstacles – which are made from the remains of trees brought down by storms – and environmental features, including newly created sand dunes and a pollinator patch.

Pictured: Deputy Jonathan Renouf, Minister for Infrastructure and Environment. Opening of Coronation Park, St Lawrence 22/09/2026 Picture: ROBBIE DARK

Deputy Renouf said the opening of the extension was “a fantastic moment for our community,” adding: “This wonderful new space gives children more opportunities to explore, play and let their imaginations run wild, while creating an environment that families can enjoy together for years to come.”

This is only the first phase of a the £280,000-project’s multi-staged development and opening timetable.

Lee Roberts, who lives nearby and often walks dogs through the park to get to the beach, said the price was “quite cheap”.

He said that the park was “certainly pretty” and thought it was a much needed improvement on the empty field it once was.

Pictured: Lee Roberts often uses the park and said the extension was “certainly pretty”

The 2.8 acre site has been vacant for years, notably hosting the island’s Nightingale Hospital during the COVID pandemic.

In 2022, it wad gifted to the people of Jersey by an anonymous donor, who gave a portion of the field to the nearby church and the rest to the government.

Over the course of four years, there have been consultations and invitations to the public to suggest how they’d like to see the space used.

Following more than 600 consultation responses and more than 1,000 ideas submitted by children and young people, work began on the park in April of this year.

Stacy Baines said that it was “nice to have somewhere new” where she could bring her son to play, but she did think that “there should be a little bit more,” for children to do.

“I think anything for children is definitely a good use of government money,” she said.

In the future, a pump track for mountain-bikers, surfacing of the field closest to the inner road and more planting will be added.