Play Equipment for Market Place

The environment

We more than achieved our goals to create a green space. Although we planted fewer trees (14) because of space concerns we have converted tarmac to grass, improved drainage with gabion support walls, new hedgerows and pollinator friendly plants and the space is much gentler, cooler and cleaner. The Spacehive funding enabled us to build a wide slide, more swings and climbing features. One committee member said "3 people came up to me and told me how amazing the playground is and how it's changed their lives. One woman said her son has become a more confident climber, which has helped him in other ways."

The local economy

Dwell time at the previous playground was very brief. Users were forced to bring children there as there were few other options but nobody wanted to linger. Parents had to go outside East Finchley for quality play options. Now the playground is packed between 8 and 9 in the morning and 3-6pm and all weekend regardless of weather. Commuters stop to play table tennis. Children hang around on the swings before and after school. Parents stay for hours at a time. This has a halo benefit for the economy of East Finchley - keep parents in the area at weekends and encouraging spend on coffee / snacks at the local high street. Children who come to schools from other postcodes now stay at the playground in the afternoons. We have anecdotally know parents to bring their children from as far away as Kings Cross to visit the playground.

Volunteering, jobs & education

The project was entirely consulted for, campaigned for, fundraised and planned by volunteers - with design, planning and construction managed by Barnet Council.

Arts, culture & heritage

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Activity, health and leisure

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