What does your park have?

[SwingAndRoundabout]

I am working with a local community group on new facilities for our local park and recreation ground.

At the moment, there are football pitches, a cricket pitch, a skate ramp, tennis and basketball courts, as well as a children's playground and a cafe.

There is a lot of discussion about what else we could put in place. We have a fund to pay for facilities. We have a few ideas for additional facilities, maybe outdoor gym equipment or a splash/paddling pool. I have views on these options but am trying to leave those aside for this thread.

Looking for inspiration for other options we could consider. What is there at your local park? Or what would you really like there to be?

Thanks in advance!

A specific playground area for older kids (8+ or so) with larger equipment, more climbing facilities etc. With a large initial step to try to deter patents with smaller children.

Ours has
A bandstand
Bowls green
Skate park
Tennis courts x 2
Duck pond
Outdoor gym
Ruins of an abbey
Playground for big children
Playground for small children
Cafe
Toilets
Mobile coffee van
Memorial gates (where remembrance parade happens).
It also has a couple of road bridges over it.
A river .
Car parking.

Every year there is a music festival.

We have a small pump track (for bmx/scooters) at our local ones.

The tap for drinking water (which could also be used for water pistols etc.) is a great idea, and hopefully low maintenance.

Some parks further afield have water play where you are moving the water around using pumps/archimedes screw etc. but I think they are also high maintenance.

We've got a playground but it needs work on as when it rains it becomes a big puddle. We've got a small nature reserve area, basketball and tennis courts, a bowling green, a cafe and toilets. It's got an outdoor table tennis table. It's also got an outdoor gym area but not with bikes etc, more like beams, monkey bars etc.

The country park clsest to us has a visitor centre staffed by the park rangers who do guided nature walks and all kinds of activities - building bird and insect boxes, traditional hedging, evening bat walks, etc and they also lead a volunteer programme to help with upkeep of the park. There are lots of nature trails for different levels of ability which are very popular.

It's a pity there aren't park keepers anymore. Our local park is a no go area in the evening because of big groups of people that hang out there harassing people, smoking weed, drinking alcohol and letting dogs run wild. Security and prevention of vandalism is an issue in general with parks I think. Things I'd love to see in parks though - café with options for people with dietary needs, accessible facilities so everyone can play, use toilets etc, dogs (other than assistance dogs) not allowed in play or food areas, nature trail or similar

ours calls itself a sports park.
it has
-a running loop with 100m marks and lights
-a large playground including an accessible section
-basketball court
-football pitch (astroturf & lighting)
-tennis court
-skating area with ramps
-table tennis tables
-some picknick benches
-lots of greenery

and best of all - no dogs allowed!
it's a very busy park with a lovely atmosphere.

We have loads of those gym things nearby and I have never once seen an adult using them. Just kids messing around on them.

A little splash pool sounds great though and I bet it would be used loads in summer.

One of my favourite parks is Greenhead in Huddersfield. (near my mums) It has everything, skate park, basket ball court, tennis, two large play parks, miles of scooter/bike friendly paths, mini train, large outdoor paddling pool. Good toilets, victorian conservatory cafe, small shop, boules, bowling, Lots of seating, trees.
You can spend all day. The large paddling pool is rammed in summer. The outdoor boules is always busy. Maybe contact them and ask what's popular?

I'd like to see mini golf, you would need staff though.