A vision of creating a new play park in Kirkby Stephen has taken a step closer to becoming reality.
Westmorland and Furness Council, Kirkby Stephen Town Council and Kirkby Stephen Cricket Club have been working together to develop a new playground on ground adjacent to the cricket pitch.
A planning application has now been lodged for the scheme, which can be viewed here: Westmorland and Furness Council website l Planning application 2024/1336/FPA
Designed for children aged six months to 14 years old and to be inclusive for young people with additional needs, the playground’s design takes into account the rural location, with the aim of being a destination playground where children and their families can spend the day enjoying the play area, walks along the river and the scenic views.
The playground project is one part of an exciting scheme aimed at boosting the town’s visitor, heritage and cultural offer: the Kirkby Stephen Town Centre Improvement Scheme, which was awarded £315,500 from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).
Some £150,000 of UKSPF funding is earmarked for the play park on land owned by the cricket club in Hartley parish, including equipment such as a cobra swing, flywheel, sensory flower, wriggler, stepping posts, flower springie, swings and a mini pyramid. An additional £45,700 has been awarded to the play park project from funding for an outdoor amenity for Kirkby Stephen Children’s Centre. Westmorland and Furness Council’s Eden Locality Board has also contributed £9,399.
Kirkby Stephen Town Council Chairman Paul Richardson said: “The UKSPF money has provided for four substantial projects to be completed in Kirkby Stephen this year. It’s exciting times and enhances the town with more amenities.”
The other projects in the Kirkby Stephen Town Centre Improvement Scheme are:
• Improved wayfinding and interpretation
• Redesign of Silver Street Gardens
• External refurbishment of visitor centre.
Refurbishment of the town memorial garden at Silver Street will make an appealing and welcoming green space in the heart of the town. The planning application approved includes lowering the boundary wall to improve visibility into the park and encourage use, extending the park area, introducing further seating areas and carrying out hard and soft landscaping.
Improvements to the outside of the town's visitor centre will include installing new double-glazed windows, helping to protect this important building. The town council has provided funding for an architect to undertake work to support a planning consent application as the building is in a conservation area.
The wayfinding project will look at new and existing signage to improve how people navigate the town. New interpretation boards will enhance the look and feel of the area and encourage visitors to explore beyond the high street. Westmorland and Furness Council is working with partners from the Coast to Coast Path (C2C), which has been awarded National Trail status. The Countryside Access Team will install better signage from the C2C into Kirkby Stephen, making sure walkers are aware of the facilities available in town.
Twenty-two projects locally are sharing £8.1 million from the UKSPF and Rural England Prosperity Fund, allocated by Westmorland and Furness Council, for schemes aimed at improving community and place, supporting local business, and people and skills.