Families gained back a popular play spot as the Ebury Play Area by Riverside Drive in Rickmansworth reopened on Monday 6 July, ending a closure dragged out by the discovery of Japanese Knotweed. Three Rivers District Council confirmed the refurbishment wrapped up two days earlier than its contractor, The School Renovation Company, had estimated, bringing the reopening just ahead of the summer holidays.
Children can now tackle a fresh set of equipment including swings, a large slide, a play hut, and a wooden hilltop tower threaded with climbing ropes. A balance log, riverbank hut, tunnels, and a spinning dish add to the adventurous layout, all set within natural landscaping and new picnic benches. Cllr Chris Lloyd, Lead Member for Leisure, called the opening “absolutely delightful” but acknowledged the wait had been frustrating. “While it’s disappointing it has taken so long for the play area to open, I hope now we can put that all behind us and enjoy the improved Ebury Play Area going forward,” he said.
The council had originally planned to reopen the site much sooner after refurbishment works, but an extensive patch of Japanese Knotweed was found just days before that target forced a halt and a full remediation programme. Specialist contractor Environet started work on 18 March 2026, tackling the invasive plant alongside The School Renovation Company under a process expected to take up to 16 weeks. Japanese Knotweed is controlled under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and classed as controlled waste under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, meaning its removal on a playground site demanded careful handling to stop it returning.
The play area sits within Rickmansworth Aquadrome, a site holding both Green Flag and Local Nature Reserve status that doubles as a natural flood plain protecting the town. The refurbishment forms part of the wider Rickmansworth Aquadrome Project, which draws funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, HS2 Colne Valley Additional Mitigation Panel, Community Infrastructure Levy, and UK Shared Prosperity Fund to restore and safeguard the nature reserve. A public consultation held in April and May 2024 shaped the design to encourage adventurous play among willow dens, traversing ropes, and timber towers that blend into the surrounding habitats.
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