Families in Colchester can now enjoy a newly opened playground at Castle Park, which officially welcomed visitors following a ribbon-cutting ceremony on 7 April 2026.
Led by the Mayor and Mayoress of Colchester, the event featured local schoolchildren from St Thomas More’s School. Faith Olapade, a pupil at the school, helped cut the ceremonial ribbon after winning a competition to design the playground’s colours.
The updated facility cost £600,000 to complete, with funding provided by Colchester City Council borrowing alongside contributions from local developers. The final design was shaped by extensive community feedback, including 3,200 votes cast by residents during a consultation period in 2025.
The playground features three distinct play zones. These include a Roman-themed area with a custom-built castle structure, a Jungle Safari section with animal-themed equipment, and a Mersea Island-inspired area featuring a play ship and beach activities. The park’s original helter-skelter has also been refurbished and repainted for continued use.
A primary focus of the new facility is accessibility. It includes the city’s first publicly accessible wheelchair swing, as well as a wheelchair-friendly trampoline, roundabout, and seesaw. The site also features step-free access and sensory equipment designed to ensure the playground is inclusive for all children.
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