Work began yesterday, 20 April 2026, on a £750,000 upgrade to the play area at Lower Leas Coastal Park in Folkestone, Kent. The project aims to replace aging facilities with a new, inclusive space designed for children of all ages and abilities.
The site, which hosts the largest free adventure playground in the south east, has been closed to ensure public safety while the improvements are carried out. The previous equipment, which included an iconic pirate ship, had been in use for 25 years and was recently deemed beyond economical maintenance and repair.
The Folkestone & Hythe District Council appointed Proludic Ltd, a specialist manufacturer with over 35 years of experience, to deliver the new design. The project’s layout was shaped by feedback from over 1,100 residents who shared their views during a public consultation held between December 2024 and February 2025.
Construction was scheduled to align with the completion of essential cliff stabilisation work near The Vinery. That work was necessary following a significant landslip caused by record levels of rainfall in February 2024. The new play facility is expected to be open for public use in time for the 2026 summer season.
Funding for the refurbishment is being provided through a combination of development levies intended to improve local infrastructure, specific grants, and other council budget allocations. The Lower Leas Coastal Park has been a recipient of the Green Flag Award every year since 2007.
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