Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole are seeing £4.6 million of improvements across 120 play areas, with final designs now published for five key refurbishments. The updates feature in the June 2026 Plan for Play newsletter issued by BCP Council.
Published designs cover Noyce Gardens, Bourne Valley, Muscliff, Mallard Road and King’s Park, shaped by community consultation held last year. Work on these major upgrades continues alongside the wider investment programme. Meanwhile, Treasure Island in Canford Cliffs reopened on 20 June after a £130,000 renovation that added upgraded climbing equipment, slides, sensory features and a mini zip-wire to the iconic pirate ship. Cllr Sandra Moore, portfolio holder for Play Strategy, said the transformation would guarantee “a high-quality, inclusive play space for years to come.” Funding came jointly from the Canford Cliffs Land Society and Neighbourhood CIL contributions from ward councillors.
An extra £400,000 in Neighbourhood CIL funding has been awarded to more than 20 green space projects. Slades Farm gains replacement swings, Haskells Rec sees BMX track improvements and Bournemouth’s central gardens receive new slides. The seventh CIL funding round has now allocated over £1.4 million to 81 community schemes since the initiative began.
Kings Park Nursery, closed in January 2024 after years of financial losses, is being turned into a community hub through The Parks Foundation and Grounded Community. Public engagement events are scheduled for 25 July, 9 August and 11 September 2026. Cllr Moore said she was “thrilled” to see community uses taking shape after the difficult decision to shut the nursery. The Parks Foundation already runs community cafés at Winton Recreation Ground, Redhill Park, Boscombe Chine Gardens and Alexandra Park.
Churchill Gardens Community Association continues work on new designs for its own area, while a consultation is underway for a new play space at Landford Way in Bournemouth. Councillors John Challinor and Gavin Wright highlighted the importance of the Treasure Island refurbishment for Canford Cliffs families.
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