New lease of life for Arc play park

25 May 2019 

Children and adults alike can enjoy icecream and insects at a fun afternoon on Friday 31 May 2019.

A play area, skate park and wild walk in the heart of Ryde have been totally revamped thanks to £100,000 in funding from Sovereign Housing Association.

Sovereign ramped up funding to give some much-needed TLC to swings, climbing frames and picnic benches in the Arc playground at Slade Road, Ryde, as well as re-laying paving for the well-loved basketball court and skate park.

The playpark will be officially opened by local councillor Charles Chapman, a long-term friend of the project and the town of Ryde, at 1pm.

Working alongside Vectis Housing Association and Wild at Wight, the event will also celebrate a fantastic wild walk, which runs alongside the park, with organised events including pond-dipping and bug-hoovering. 

This will be followed by free icecreams in the park at 3pm, courtesy of the Sovereign communities team.

David Bull, Regional Housing Manager for Sovereign, said: “Over the last decade we’ve worked together with other local organisations to transform a neglected and redundant play area into a wonderful, natural space for everyone to enjoy.”

 “There’s something for everyone in the playpark too, from the playground equipment suitable for three different age groups, to basketball or football, skateboarding or even just peaceful pic-nicking. We hope that the weather will hold and that it’ll be a fabulous day out for everyone – with a lovely icecream to round off an afternoon catching bugs and beasties!”