WiCKsteed
baCKs
timberplay
for ramped up
play offerinG.
Wicksteed Park are ready for the onset of summer, with
new water play equipment supplied by children’s play
specialists Timberplay. Established in 1921, Wicksteed
Park was the first dedicated children’s play park in the UK,
created with equipment specifically for children set in the
147 acre country park. The popular destination park has
been boosted with the addition of waterplay and sand play
– set to delight children throughout the next few months of
blistering sunshine.
All the delights of beach play have been encapsulated into
the new designs for the landlocked park. An extensive sand
play area includes cranes, chutes, tippers, platforms and
cranes, perfect for transportation play. It is also the site of
the first AQuadrat in the UK, a flexible modular waterplay
system made from solid oak timber, with mushroom pump
and metal gutters. Alasdair McNee, Director comments:“Since its inception, Wicksteed has been about delivering
the best in children’s play – inspiring children to get out
and enjoy the park by providing specialist equipment
specifically for children. Over the years the park has
evolved, adding varied play equipment, roller coasters
and rides to complement the tranquillity of the historic
park. This new addition is extremely popular and has been
mobbed since it opened, with children, parents and carers
camping out for the day. We have many and varied play
opportunities throughout the park, but waterplay was one
thing we knew would be a very popular addition with our
users – and that has certainly been proved to be the case.”
88 Landscape & Urban Design Issue 14
Wicksteed attracts 350,000 visitors per year and is free to
enter. There are a number of paid for attractions, but the
water and sand play is free for all park users.
Alongside the extensive sand play area, AQuadrat and
waterplay there is also a number of pieces created for
toddlers, for example the Platform Houses and Peter Horse
Cart and Swinging Horse, all grouped in a Play Village.
The Kettering Park was founded in 1921 by Charles
Wicksteed as realising his vision to inspire and encourage
play as part of families’ health and well-being. He
established The Wicksteed Charitable Trust to carry out his
work after his death and keep his dream alive.