I want to get a local playground built, any advice where to start?

[AnneTwackie]

Our local playground is rubbish; the equipment is really dated and dangerous, the floor is just tarmac and there are no others in walking distance which are any better. So where do I start? I’ve contacted parks and green spaces at the local council and they’re just ignoring me. Has anyone done this successfully? Prepared to fundraise and lobby, got lots of ideas but could do wit him hearing from someone with experience please!

*do with hearing

Sorry no advice but watching with interest because our town has a similar situation

Lottery community fund?

A lottery grant

www.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk/news/17390004.community-joy-as-playgrounds-across-south-lakeland-win-lottery-funding/

Good thinking cottonsock

No personal experience but...

Get in touch with your local councillor. You'll find their name and contact details on the council website.

Get in touch with your local paper and get them to come and take photos.

Any local big-wigs with money? Ask them if they'll get the ball rolling with a donation.

Be prepared for a very long campaign and a high bill. In my parents' tiny village, the cost of a new playground was £100k+!

If you are planning to go for any funding you'll need to 'prove there is a need'.
There obviously is so make this known./public. You might look for sponsorship, matched funding or donations.
Get local children involved and maybe someone who is social media savvy ... create free blog,Twitter, FB, Instagram accounts. Logo for your campaign that is easy to recognise and copy on banners/tee-shirts etc. Maybe local children could design this.
Photos of the state it is now, what you'd all like to see happen. Then get local councillors on board but make sure it is the doer, not the poser!
If you have local CAT meetings rock up at them or to the public section of the local council.
Can you include something environmental in the new playground e.g. wildflower verge/corridor or something that is the current 'in' thing?
Good luck, hope it all goes well.

Play England / Play Wales are good places to start. Yes also email your local councillors. Worth setting up a Facebook page to garner help and interest from local people. Sometimes estates have a section 106 which means they have to provide play equipment - look into this. Town planning are also a good port of call. If an existing play area is falling down then report it on fixmystreet.

Lots of great ideas thank you!

To prove the need, get a petition started and sign up anyone in the playground, at school gates etc.

My friend did this in her area. She did a lot of fundraising & the local council matched what they raised. She got the local MP on board first & they was a lot of coverage on it in the local paper & Facebook etc but.....

It took forever, a good 3 years if not more by the time it was built her oldest 2 were past that stage & I think now she looks back & thinks it wasn't worth all the time she put into it. She said she doesn't regret it at all because others will benefit but it's a shame others didn't put as much into as she did.

Good luck OP

Ok, find a ballpark figure for cost (ha ha, pun)
How will you fund this, ideas for fundraising.
Time scale you want to be completed.
Social media and radio or drop leaflets to schools (with permission)
list of volunteers happy to help with admin/finance
or to clean up the area before the work commences.
Contact organisations to ask for help, advertise events in charity section of local newspaper.
Don't try to go it alone, it will take longer and you can't do everything.
Use others strengths.

Google Leslie Knope.
She's very efficient at getting parks built.

And most importantly find some (useful) help. It will take its toll on you otherwise.

Veolia and the Suez Trust are good places to look for playground funding. They’re specifically targeted at this sort of civic amenity. Get a team together.

Talk to your local councillor and perhaps your MP.

And remember that even if the council’s kneejerk reaction to everything is that they’ve got no money because of austerity and they need to spend it all on adult social care for the elderly (which is a fair point when talking about the general budget) there may be money in the Community Infrastructure Levy pot which is specifically earmarked for projects of this type. Find out how it’s spent and see if you can influence that decision-making process (some councils have public votes or consultations).

Googles Leslie Knope, feels like a tit, thanks Mookie

Got so many good starting points here, just bumping incase anyone can add to it please?

I’m just about to PM you, Anne.

I know when our local park was updated Tesco had it as one of their ‘causes’

It was featured as an option for the blue plastic token things. Like this.

That might be an idea

I am a local councillor - you need to approach your council and ask for it to be put on the agenda for your area. That way they will be asked to consider your request, look at ideas, opinions and importantly what if any budget is available.

Yes you can ask Tesco or the community to add funds, you may also qualify for developer contributions if there are any new build areas local to you?

It's a lot to consider but definitely worth it!

AnneTwackie sorry I couldn't help myself