A new £120,000 play park is set to bring a major boost for children and families in Scaws, with work due to begin next week following an 18-month community fundraising and development effort.
The existing play area serving the Scaws community, around Beaconside Primary School, is set to be transformed after local volunteers joined forces with Westmorland and Furness Council to secure additional funding and turn what could have been a straightforward replacement into a much more ambitious play space.
The Scaws Recreation Group (SRG) first approached the council in October 2024 after concerns about the deteriorating and limited equipment at the council-owned play area.
Rather than simply replacing the existing equipment, the volunteer group set out to find additional funding to create a play area offering greater opportunities for creativity, adventure, challenge and inclusive play for a wider range of ages.
The project began by asking local people what they wanted to see in their new play park.
Community events, questionnaires, idea boards and even a scrapbook activity using play equipment manufacturers' catalogues were used to gather ideas from local residents and young people.
That feedback was then used by SRG when applying for funding from a range of organisations, with the aim of adding to the £60,000 already designated by Westmorland and Furness Council for the replacement of the play area.
The fundraising campaign eventually secured a further £60,000, taking the total project funding to £120,000.
The funding came from a range of sources, including £20,000 from the National Lottery Community Fund, £15,000 from Penrith Town Council, £10,000 from Cumbria Community Foundation through The Westmorland Family, £6,500 from the National Highways A66 Legacy Fund, £5,000 from the Westmorland and Furness Council 0-19 Young Person Community Fund, £2,500 from The Frieda Scott Trust and £1,000 through a Westmorland and Furness Local Councillor Grant.
SRG then continued to work alongside the council through the tendering process, with the feedback gathered from the local community incorporated into the tender and guidance documents.
A design has now been selected and the council has awarded the contract to a play park manufacturer.
Work is due to begin during the week commencing 21 September 2026, with the new play area expected to take between eight and 12 weeks to install.
The existing play park will be closed throughout the construction work.
Richard Scoffham, Chair of Scaws Recreation Group, said the project had turned the replacement of the old equipment into something much more ambitious.
“The community group committee and I would like to share our overwhelming gratitude to all of our funders, which has enabled us to work collaboratively, to turn what would have been a basic Play park replacement, into something that is truly unique and exciting, whilst providing new features for inclusivity and a wider age range of young people.
“We hope this fantastic new play park brings many hours of joy and happiness to the local community and the hundreds of students at the neighbouring Beaconside Primary School.”
The project represents a significant investment in a community play area which is used not only by local families but also by children attending the neighbouring primary school.
The completed play park is expected to be ready for the community once the installation and associated works have been completed.
Then select "Add to Home Screen"
