Progress is continuing towards the creation of play mounds in the shape of a dragon on The Racecourse. Due care is being taken to ensure that local residents have been fully involved with discussions about the design and location of the mounds and that local children are satisfied that they will provide an exciting play space. However, we are still awaiting to hear whether funding has been awarded for this project.

All houses backing onto The Racecourse received an invitation to hear more about the suggested mounds at a site meeting on July 21st. Only 2 residents attended and are understandably concerned that the mounds don't attract anti-social behaviour or intrude into their gardens. Subsequent conversations with other residents also echo these concerns, but are content with the proposals now that they have been scaled-down and their views have been incorporated into the re-designs. (see attached)

The FONR Newsletter was published in January 2009 and included information and drawings about the suggested play mounds, together with an invitation to an Open Public Meeting to discuss these ideas. 56 people attended this meeting on Feb. 3rd with 73% in favour of the mounds. Suggestions for improvements were given and have been incorporated into amended designs which were discussed at the follow-up meeting & will also be produced in the next FONR Newsletter.

Additionally, the Youth Council from Castle Primary School undertook a site visit which has affirmed the desire for and use of the play mounds and influenced their design. (please see Appendix 1 for some of their ideas)

Consultation about the play mounds have also been held with The Racecourse Partnership Board, with the FONR Executive committee and with the NBC Director of Environment.

Although there have been many consultations to date, as with all public projects, we realise the need for ongoing consultation and will endeavour to continue to consult with all interested parties as this project develops.

The project proposal to design, install, monitor and maintain creative play mounds on The Racecourse. The proposed location is on open land near to the Barrack Rd. / St. George’s Rd. corner, adjacent to an area which used to have fixed play equipment. (but which has now either been removed or is in a poor state with need for repair)

The project is open for all to use, including all beneficiaries within the given 10-18 years age criteria. This will be an innovative play space, freely open for all to use and of easy walking or cycling access, available at any time in the week. 4103 children & young people live within 2km of The Racecourse boundary (IMD 2004) and it is guestimated that at least 1250 people will utilise this facility each year.

This project links to the NBC Play Strategy in many ways (page numbers given below relate to this document). The Healthy Living Hub (HLH) group of young people, carers and volunteers who are behind this project recognise and affirm that, as stated in the Strategy Foreword;

“Play is an essential part of children’s and young people’s lives. Play is the way in which children and young people explore the world around them and develop practical skills. Play is of fundamental importance for children and young people’s health and well-being, their relationships, their development and their learning. Good play opportunities promote good social, mental and emotional health, giving children and young people the chance to try out and experience a range of emotions in a safe way. It allows them to learn and develop emotionally by promoting resilience and fostering self esteem. The benefits of play extend to the wider community, particularly with the provision of youth facilities, in tackling issues of anti-social behaviour, community safety and youth crime.” (p3)

Furthermore, the use of this funding for these creative play mounds would promote meaningful, accessible, innovative and sustainable play opportunities which encompass these qualities:
-Free at point of access: no charge for playing on the mounds; available for all to access.
-Freedom to come and go: the mounds will not be fenced in and are available for use at all times, easily walked to by many young people. They are within a safe environment and Community Safety advice has been sought in their design.
-Free to choose: the mounds for their own creative ideas, from imaginative play on ‘the dragon’, races up & down the hills, rolling down the banks……………….(p6)

Through consultation (see below), this plan for new provision has been designed which adheres fully to the 7 objectives determined by Best Play (2000):
Objective 1: the provision extends the choice and control that children have over their own play, the freedom they enjoy and the satisfaction they gain
Objective 2: the provision recognises the child’s need to test boundaries and responds positively to that need
Objective 3: the provision manages the balance between the need to offer risk and the need to keep children safe
Objective 4: the provision maximises the range of play opportunities
Objective 5: the provision fosters independence and self esteem
Objective 6: the provision fosters children’s respect for others and offers opportunities for social interaction
Objective 7: the provision fosters the child’s well-being, healthy growth and development, knowledge and understanding, creativity and capacity to learn (p6)
This project recognises and affirms that Play provision should encompass a balance between risk and benefits of participation in the activity. (p9)

This project takes note of and links with the specific details in the Play Strategy, namely;
Local demographic information: the mounds will be located on the boundary of Castle Ward, one of the top 3% of the most deprived wards in the country. (p9)
Every Child Matters agenda: the HLH puts the child at the heart of the project. Young people will be given opportunities to make a positive contribution in an environment, which is safe, enjoyable and allows young people to succeed. Activities on the play mound will also promote health and well-being. (p12)
Choosing Health agenda: the project will promote increased activity; this will subsequently contribute to improving the health & well-being of young people. (p12)
National respect agenda: it should reduce antisocial behaviour by producing a positive place to play & meet with peers. (p12)
Local Area Agreement themes:
-Ensure children and Young People achieve health lifestyles by avoiding obesity
-To create cleaner, safer and greener communities
-To increase opportunities for children and young people to influence the way services are provided (p14)
Northampton Community Safety Partnership: this could be one of the innovative projects that are suggested by the Partnership & the Play Strategy. (p17)
Review of local play provision: There is little organised Open Access Play provision in the borough; this project would directly addresses this. (p17)
Money for Youth: are looking to create projects that help to achieve the Every Child Matters Outcomes, that is, projects such as this that are about young people:
• Enjoying themselves
• Achieving
• Making a positive contribution to the community
• Staying safe; and
• Being healthy (p18)

Local: Open Space, Sport and Recreation Needs Assessment and Audit Strategy (2006) & Policy Planning Guidance 17: The Council adopted a policy for unsupervised children’s playgrounds, after the public were consulted. The consultation reviewed the following:
-91% and 80% of people felt that areas for children and young people were important
-The survey identified that children use open spaces to meet friends, to get some
exercise and to go for a walk – the Racecourse and Abington Park were the most
popular open spaces for these activities. Thus it is appropriate to place these play mounds on The Racecourse to address these needs, particularly as the majority of the resources have been allocated to Abington Park. (p16)

Community Engagement & Consultation: The extensive consultation concluded the need to:
-create and plan more exciting, challenging and adventurous play space and opportunities through consultation with children and young people
-provide better opportunities for children and young people with disabilities and their families
-promote and encourage children and young people to become more active through play. (p24)
This project responds to this consultation and its findings.

In conclusion, this project fits within the Play Strategy Action Plan, in particular Play Strategy Objective 3: To improve access to local play opportunities for 4 – 18 year olds, ensuring elements of risk are considered, along with promoting inclusive practice.