HS2 helps build new play park in Lichfield

The HS2 has helped fund a refurbishment to build a new play park in Lichfield.

Streethay play park was refurbished by the Fradley and Streethay Parish Council following a £75,000 grant from HS2 's Community and Environment Fund (CEF).

All playing equipment, which has lasted for two decades, has been replaced on the 0.8 acre site.

The play park has been revitalised with modern equipment to cater to a wide range of age groups, including a zip wire, exercise machines and a wheelchair-accessible roundabout. In total, over 20 pieces of new equipment have been installed across the site.

The Parish Council has also established a small woodland habitat on the site complete with bird houses, bug hotels and bat boxes.

Attending the opening of the park, HS2's engagement & interface manager Chris Humphreys said:

“Streethay 's new play park is a fantastic example of HS2 's Community & Environment Fund in action at a location where local residents are disrupted by the construction of HS2. It 's clear the new equipment will provide a place where the community can come together to relax, exercise and play.

Chair of Fradley and Streethay Parish Council, Cllr Katherine Hull said:

“This is a fantastic upgrade to the Streethay Play Park. The new play equipment is a huge improvement and will give children and adults a much better play experience with the all-inclusive exercise equipment. We are extremely grateful for the funding that HS2 Ltd has given towards the project, and we would like to thank them for this generous funding.

HS2 's Community & Environment Fund (CEF) and Business & Local Economy Fund (BLEF) has provided over £12m funding to over 200 projects across the UK.

Following Parliament 's approval of the next phase of HS2 in February last year, the CEF & BLEF Funds were made available to organisations across the 36-miles of route travelling between Crewe and the West Midlands, and a further £5m was made available.

Both the CEF & BLEF Funds are still welcoming applications, which are independently administered by community charity, Groundwork UK.

For more information, visit https://hs2funds.org.uk/home/community-environment-fund/