Wooden Galleon ‘beached’ in Priory Park, Reigate
News release dated 19 October 2007 about the opening of a new playground in Priory Park.
A wooden Galleon stranded on a bed of sand, a water play area with water pumps and jets, an ariel slide, two metre high climbing wall and plenty of swings greeted children as the exciting new playground in Priory Park, Reigate, opened Friday 19 October 2007, just in time for the half-term holidays.
“There is something here for children of all ages and I am sure the young people of our borough will be thrilled with these new facilities.” (Cllr Tom Stoddart, Executive Member for Leisure and Healthy Living)
To celebrate the milestone, children from Year 3 at Reigate Priory Junior School helped Reigate & Banstead Borough Council, the Heritage Lottery Fund and playground sponsor Watson Wyatt Worldwide officially open the playground, and the lucky children were first to get the chance to play on the new equipment.
The new facilities are part of Reigate & Banstead Borough Council's multi-million pound Priory Park restoration project and features a toddler play zone and junior play zone with timber play equipment, sand pit and water play area (which will open in the warmer weather next summer).
The modern, but unobtrusive play equipment is set within attractive landscaped gardens including hardy palms, ferns and grasses and will be over looked by the new cafe pavilion , so that parents can sit down while watching their children.
Cllr Tom Stoddart, Executive Member for Leisure and Healthy Living, said: “The completion of the playground is a significant milestone in our project to restore Priory Park to its former glory and provide new leisure facilities to meet the needs of the community.
“We have consulted the community throughout this project and so the playground facilities have been designed with their comments in mind, but also to fit in with the wider landscape of this historic park. Its nautical theme links with the history of Reigate Priory, which has strong maritime connections.
“There is something here for children of all ages and I am sure the young people of our borough will be thrilled with these new facilities.”
Now that the new playground is open, work will start to turn the existing playground, near Bell Street car park, back to its former use as an Arboretum to enhance the setting of the Priory building. Work is also continuing on the new youth area and tennis courts, which are expected to be completed in November.
The Priory Park restoration project has received £4.2m backing from the Heritage Lottery Fund and commercial support from businesses Legal & General, Parador Properties, Canon (UK) Ltd, Watson Wyatt Worldwide, Fidelity International and Charles Church.
Watson Wyatt Worldwide are supporting the playground element of the project because it fits in with their ongoing support to help improve play areas in the Borough.
Dina Thorpe, Committee Member for the Heritage Lottery Fund and Robert Hails, a former Partner and Senior Benefits Consultant for Watson Wyatt Worldwide helped to cut the ribbon at the official opening ceremony.
Read a news statement about the thinking behind the new Priory Park playground.
Ship naming competition
At the opening of the playground the Council launched a competition to name the playground’s ship.
Cllr Stoddart added: “The judges will be looking for a name that links with the heritage of Priory Park. Heritage can be interpreted in a number of ways, for example: the natural heritage of the park (wildlife and ecology), the history of Reigate Priory and its various owners, or more recent heritage links. Previous occupants of the Priory include Lord High Admiral, Lord Charles Howard of Effingham and Admiral of the Fleet, Earl David Beatty.
“The winner will be invited to take part in the formal naming ceremony and will also receive a Celebration Tea package for 8 people at the new Priory Park pavilion café.”
The competition will be judged by representatives of the Council, Reigate & Banstead Youth Council and the Friends of Priory Park. The most appropriate name will be selected and the winner announced in the New Year. A formal naming ceremony will be conducted in the Summer 2008, when the completed restoration project is unveiled.
To enter the ship naming competition you must be age 14 or under on 31 Dec 2007. Just send in your suggested name for the ship and short explanation of why you think the name should be given to the ship, together with your full name, address and your age on 31 Dec 2007.
For more information about the competition download the PDF below.
Name the Ship Competition (130.4K)
Entries should be sent by Friday 21 December 2007 in writing to:
Alison Ellis
Ship Competition
Reigate & Banstead Borough Council
Town Hall
Castlefield Road
Reigate
Surrey
RH2 0SH
or by email to alison.ellis@reigate-banstead.gov.uk
Reigate & Banstead Borough Council
Town Hall
Castlefield Road
Reigate
RH2 0SH
01737 276000
Reigate and Banstead Borough Council is not responsible for the content of external sites.
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