Gavin Williamson, MP for South Staffordshire, visited Coven Play Field on Thursday to congratulate winners of the ‘My Dream Park’ competition and hear more from the Coven Playing Fields Committee about their plans for the renovation of the park.
The competition was ran by Coven’s Playing Field Committee, a group of volunteers working alongside the Parish Council to provide Coven residents with a refurbished play area.
Gavin joined members of the Committee, Parish Councillors Tarra Simmons, General Manager Co-operative Social Responsibility, to learn more about the plans for the park and to congratulate pupils from St Paul’s, Coven, including year 4 pupil and overall winner of the competition, Lily Harper.
The group was founded by concerned parents who were worried about the current playground facilities which are over 20 years old and in need of updating. The Committee hopes to refurbish 50% of the current equipment and replace the wooden assault course, tyre climbing frame and decommissioned zip wire with new equipment.
After surveying Coven residents earlier this year, the Committee compiled results and sought out quotes from a number of local suppliers. They held an exhibition at the end of July at Coven Memorial Hall and gathered feedback from residents. In addition to the exhibition the committee held a competition for all pupils from St Paul’s School in Coven to design their ‘dream park’. The Committee are hoping that the refurbishment and replacement of equipment will be ready for a grand opening in the summer of 2017.
After meeting Committee members and Coven pupils Gavin commented: “This is an absolutely brilliant local project centred on the children of Coven. I was so impressed with the designs from the pupils of St Paul’s and hearing their opinions on what they want in their area. This is a great example of community in action. It is wonderful to see local people working together to create a facility that can be used by all.
“I would like to thank all those involved with the Coven Playing Field Committee for all the fantastic work that they have done so far in readying the plans for the park and their fundraising efforts. I look forward to hearing more about the park in the future.”
The Committee has already received an offer from a local company to assist with the refurbishment but is seeking further funding. If you would like to support the Coven Playing Field Committee’s plans for the park visit their page
https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/playgroundcommittee