Himley Park: New woodland play area on way

The play area will feature a large play tower, including a spiral slide, rotating carousels, a zip line, seesaws, rocking horses, and several swings designed for children and toddlers to use.

Contractors eibe play Ltd will begin work on the installation of the play area on Monday April 29.

The site is expected to be ready for use in mid-July.

How the play area will look (Image: Dudley Council)

It will be located in the woodland of the 180-acre park, transforming an area near the former tennis court and pavilion. 

In keeping with its leafy surroundings, the play area will be constructed using mostly timber with a mix of grassland, a loose mulch surface, and natural wood chip paths separating the various pieces of play equipment.

The work follows a successful public consultation in 2021 and planning permission from South Staffordshire Council, whose boundaries cover the park.

There will be a spiral slide (Image: Dudley Council)

Helen Martin, director of regeneration and enterprise at Dudley Council, said: "Our consultation showed there was a clear demand among residents for a play area at Himley Hall and Park.

"We’ve listened carefully to their responses and taken action to create a space where children can enjoy themselves to the full without disrupting the tranquillity of the rest of the park.

The play area will attract more families to the park, boosting trade for the food and drinks vendors that we have on-site.

"This will help to maintain Himley as one of the most popular places in the borough for visitors to explore the great outdoors."

"We’ve taken a lot of care to make sure the design of the play area is sensitive to where it’s going to be located and the concept images look fantastic."

Himley Hall and Park will remain open as normal during the construction of the play area. Visitors are welcome between 7.30am and dusk.

The site’s coffee lounge is open daily between 9.30am and 4pm.

While disruption will be minimal, visitors are asked to take extra care while heavy machinery and delivery vehicles are on site, particularly during the first week while the play equipment is being delivered.

For the most part, the park is expected to be unaffected by the works and car parks remain fully open.

The construction of the play area is part of Dudley Council's Child Friendly Dudley strategy, which aims to make the borough a great place for children to learn, play and grow.