New play park for Shaw Ridge

An exciting new children’s play park is to be built at Shaw Ridge this summer.

West Swindon's most well used play park has aged and is now ready to be replaced with an incredible new, state-of-the-art play area for the benefit of local children, now and in generations to come.

It will be suitable for all ages and features many items including a zip wire, fort towers with slides and a ‘spiders-web’ climbing frame.

Much of the equipment has accessible play features, unlike the previous play area. The new site is also the most suitable for accessibility as it is flatter than many parts of Shaw Ridge; it is close to public parking and footpaths. Better drainage and no underground foundations or cables also formed part the decision making.

The steep slope and various other significant concerns, including underground electricity cables, rendered the existing play site unsuitable for further development. The new site is one of three which contractors considered.

A spokesperson said: “Submissions were unanimously in favour of this selected site which is opposite the How the Mighty Fall sculpture.

“From an environmental perspective, we estimate around two thirds of the current meadow will remain undisturbed. The new play park will only take up approximately a third of the site, tucked into the corner. There will be no loss of shrubs or trees.

“In addition, we are pleased to create a brand-new meadow adjacent to the current site, resulting in a significant net increase of wildflower at Shaw Ridge.

“This is also on top of the council's decision in Autumn 2024 to continue its low mow and no mow sites in West Swindon, encouraging further biodiversity of wild plants, as well as planting wildflower seeds on rough ground like the footpath between Mead Way to the Chesters and Purton Road.

“The Parish Council is mindful of the sensitivities of this difficult decision and appreciates all the hard work which the volunteers have carried out over the years to nurture biodiversity at Shaw Ridge.

“Those who have helped grow the wildflowers have always had our support. That remains. We will help with the continued care for the remaining meadow – untouched by the play park – as well as assisting with the development and maintenance of the new larger meadow.

“We hope that we will have this fantastic new facility ready for West Swindon families to enjoy by early autumn this year.”