A new children’s play area in a Chester residential estate has been officially opened.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held for the new play area at Sycamore Park, Lache, where family fun day activities were held to celebrate the occasion, including large outdoor games, sports day races and bike marking, as well as refreshments.

The play area includes a larger infant/junior/12+ years play space, a broad range of new equipment, with a showpiece multi-climbing unit, zip wire, creative play and specially designed pieces which are accessible for disabled children to play alongside their peers.

Ashton Ashbrook, who was chosen by Lache Primary School to have his Sycamore Park signage produced for the site.

Ashton Ashbrook, who was chosen by Lache Primary School to have his Sycamore Park signage produced for the site.

Cheshire west and Chester Council’s cabinet member for workforce, democracy and community, Cllr Paul Donovan said: “It’s been a wonderful day celebrating the official opening of this exciting, extensively refurbished play area.

“The new play space evolved from input with local children, schools, community groups and residents, and a number of organisations who agreed to co-fund a specific piece to make this the fantastic facility that we see here today – I’d really like to extend a big thank you to everyone involved.”

The scheme is one of the four projects which form the Lache Action plan endorsed by the council in November 2023.

The fun day at the new play area in full swing.

The fun day at the new play area in full swing.

It followed extensive community consultation and was made possible using council funding, developer contributions and funding from several private trusts, including Ursula Keys Trust, Michie Family Charitable Trust and Chester Bluecoat Charity, as part of a Spacehive campaign led by Friends of Lache.

Cllr Donovan continued: “The consultation highlighted just how much local children placed on importance of accessible play – and their desire to have pieces of equipment where all children can play together.

“The emerging design was supported by the national social enterprise Plan Inclusive Play Areas (PiPA) who helped advise on how best to incorporate inclusive play into the final design as well as by Cheshire Police and the Council’s Community Safety Wardens.”

Works to new play facilities began in April 2024 and also include new seating, landscaping and pathway improvements, complementing the existing multi-games area and junior football goals and skateboard area.