Playbuilder is just Parktastic!

Manchester City Council has secured £1.1million worth of funding to develop or refurbish 22 play areas across Manchester through the Playbuilder initiative.

Manchester's Playbuilder project will provide greater access to high quality play spaces for children and young people in the city in line with the vision for Manchester play; local exciting, safe and challenging.

The project will be carried out over two years with the first refurbished play area opening in early autumn at St Mary's Park, Moss Side.

Other new and improved play areas opening in this first year of the project will be Sandywell Park in Bradford, Clayton Vale meeting the needs of communities in Newton Heath and Clayton and Whitworth Park in Rusholme.

An important part of the process has been to involve children and young people in a meaningful way. Manchester City Council has consulted with local children from schools and plays schemes, listening to how they like to play and want they want to see in their parks.

Councillor Sheila Newman, Manchester City Council's Executive Member for Children's Services said: "It is vital that all children and young people have the chance to play. It helps to build confidence and develop imagination and resourcefulness, but above all play is fun and allows young people a level of freedom and independence that is so important for their growth. Improving the opportunities for play available in the city's parks is a priority for us and we are keen to know the thoughts and ideas of the children themselves to make this project a success."

Manchester City Council has invested significantly in its parks in recent years and the Playbuilder scheme will now help to build on the good work already carried out, which has already seen the development of many new playgrounds, multi-sports courts, BMX and skateboard facilities.

Councillor Mike Amesbury, Executive Member for Culture and Leisure at Manchester City Council said: "We have worked incredibly hard at putting parks back at the centre of the community and we're delighted to receive this funding to create better places to play for children in the city."

Manchester Playbuilder builds on the success of Parktastic, a scheme running in the city's parks encouraging children and young people to play outdoors and to experience the benefits of adventurous play.

Both projects are being managed by the city council's Children's Services and Leisure Services departments in partnership with the voluntary sector focused on improving the life chances and coordination of play, leisure, arts and cultural activities for children and young people in Manchester.