Residents in Reading, Berkshire, can now visit a family activity centre at Prospect Park following the completion and full launch of the project in February 2026. The site, known as the Ranger Station, offers a mix of outdoor and indoor activities designed to help children stay active and learn through play. Some elements of the hub — including the Reading‑themed mini‑golf and the Sky Tykes low‑ropes attraction — opened to the public in 2022; February 2026 marks the completion of the full indoor–outdoor pavilion complex, including final pavilion renovations and educational facilities.
The activity hub features a permanent climbing facility, a “Sky Tykes” low‑ropes course for children aged two to seven, and a nine‑hole mini‑golf course. The mini‑golf includes holes inspired by Reading landmarks such as Reading Abbey, The Blade and the Reading Festival. Reading Borough Council invested over £500,000 to transform the pavilion into the new facility.
The project is part of a wider plan to improve leisure spaces across the borough and to increase participation in outdoor active play. The council and local reporting say the work aims to provide affordable outdoor play options for families. Income from public activities at the Ranger Station will help fund Reading Play’s outreach programmes for vulnerable children and children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Along with the play and activity areas, the pavilion now houses a café and accessible toilet facilities (including a Changing Places facility). Local outlets, including Reading Today and Reading.co.uk, report the hub is open and serving families from nearby neighbourhoods, including Tilehurst and Southcote.
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