NEW pictures of a giant play park set to be built at Aberdeen’s beachfront as part of a £50 million regeneration project have been unveiled.
The huge bespoke structure was developed through design workshops with local children and young people and was inspired by the city’s rope-making heritage.
A Sky Tower will be the focal point of the playpark, standing at 23m, and will have four different play zones named The Village, The Woodlands, The Sky Tower, and The Glens, which will offer a variety of inclusive play areas for different age groups.
The tower will take children on a “thrilling journey” through space, starting from the woodland floor and moving up through different levels such as Under the Skies, In the Clouds, and Outer Space before arriving at a viewing platform, enclosed by steel mesh.
The first part of the play area is The Village, which is aimed at two to five-year-olds and includes a ship to captain and a bridge to cross the street, while doors lead to secret passages and other areas.
Kids will be able to explore trees with hidden routes through the forest and rope tunnels, and winding stairs, allowing the chance to reach the treetops in The Woodlands section. A fireman’s pole will let children slide back down to the ground level.
The final section is The Glens, inspired by the Aberdeenshire wildlife and countryside and aimed at older children who enjoy the “thrill” of height and are “not afraid of challenges”.
Play zones in The Glens include a rope matrix with wooden footholds to climb up through an opening in the floor into the mountains and through hilly formations to a giant net to climb up, leading to a mesh tunnel with rope ladders and a slide.
All the facilities in the play park will be accessible and free to use.
Aberdeen City Council co-leader, Councillor Ian Yuill, said: “The new play area is part of the council’s wider investment in the city and its communities.
“This project will be a place where future generations can make memories of the beachfront whilst it also strengthens our tourism offer.”
Aberdeen City Council co-leader, councillor Christian Allard, added: “This project will create a major draw for residents and visitors alike.
“A competition to give local primary school pupils a chance to give the structure its official name will be announced in the coming weeks.”
The same team that created the world’s largest play structure, the Lilidorei Play Village at Alnwick Garden in Northumberland, was tasked with creating the structure.
Aberdeen City Council said the steel-clad structures for the play park will be manufactured in Scotland and will be assembled on site later this year.
The local authority added that the foundations have already been laid as part of the ongoing works.
Along with the play area, work is underway on the biggest redevelopment of the beachfront area for 35 years.
Plans include redeveloping a skate area, which is being laid out by experts Betongpark, a gateway building and plaza, a hub building and plaza, a shelter canopy, a sand and water area, a dunes area, and a sports zone.
