Advertiser Readers Letters: Upgrade to Sherwood Avenue Play Park, Newark was great use of public money

Our grandsons love the newly-reburbished Sherwood Avenue Play Park, Newark, as do all the other young people, (and others) who couldn't wait to pile in when it re-opened recently.

When the sun shines, and even when it doesn't, the park has quickly become a magnet for children of all ages, and their families.

In these days when there is concern over public money, and how it is spent, one need look no further to see how it can be well spent, than to visit this park.

It is an overwhelming success, and a credit to the local authority and police who have funded it and enabled it to be redesigned and rebuilt.

My husband and I have learnt, through talking to them, how the organisers have involved young people such as Brad, Matt and Lawson in discussing the facilities to be provided.

This is such good practice, since when young people are involved in new facilities, they are so much more likely to encourage others to appreciate them.

It was especially nice to learn from Lawson, that some of the older young people are taking along their own first aid kits to offer basic help for simple bumps and grazes sustained during play, as well as brooms to brush off surplus water from the ramps.

One can certainly see how quite a caring and supportive group of young people is developing there.

One hopes, in time, this might also evolve into young people seeking out relevant training opportunities they might engage with.

This venture, along with all the other smaller parks that have been upgraded, is a real flagship plus for Newark, with the official opening sure to be well attended when it takes place later in the year.

Our thanks to all concerned. — Suzanne Mc-Carthy, via email.