Nine-year-old Ben Bridge thinks it’s just Parktastic. That was the name invented by Ben for a city-wide play project made possible by a huge lottery grant.
Tonight Tuesday 6 November Ben, who attends the Addy adventure playground in Wythenshawe, will be awarded a prize for winning a competition to name the play project. He will receive a £30 voucher - just in time for Christmas - and an insect box in which he can collect creepy crawlies.
Six volunteer groups will provide play opportunities for children and young people aged between five and 14 in parks and open spaces after school and at weekends.
The Parktastic event will be launched tonight in Manchester Town Hall's Great Hall between 5pm and 6.30pm, where prizes will be handed out to Ben and three runners-up.
The Great Hall will be transformed into a make-believe park when four gazebos are set up for the launch.
The Executive Member for Parks on Manchester City Council, Councillor Mike Kane, will award the prizes. He said: "As Ben says, this project really is Parktastic. Any project that gets children and young people enjoying themselves and getting exercise in the fresh air is to be welcomed."
The council scooped the second biggest award in the region - a lottery grant worth £1,475,000 - to cover the Parktastic and similar projects.
The six groups that will run the project are 4CT, Parent Carers Consultative Group, Wythenshawe Community Initiative, South Manchester Partnership, Manchester Young Lives and the Family Welfare Association.
Media contact:
Jane Lemon, tel: 0161 234 3179