A Peter Pan inspired park reopens today following a multi-million pound refurbishment by The Royal Parks.
The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground, in Kensington Gardens, was one of the most visited in the UK, with over a million visitors per year.
Last October, the park closed so that some of the older equipment, such as the large sailing ship, could be replaced. It has now undergone a full makeover, following a £3million investment by The Royal Parks.
From today (Wednesday, August 5), children will be able to visit the reopened park to play with a brand new 17-metre by 12 metre Galleon ship moored on a sandy beach.
There is also a new treehouse with three different towers and a tunnel slide. A “larger-than-life” crocodile structure is also located in inside a waterplay area. Younger children can also use a new redesigned play area with tree houses, play ships and a large sandpit.
Andy Williams, Park Manager for Kensington Gardens said: “We know that children across London, the UK and the world have been eagerly awaiting the reopening of this playground, and we can’t wait to see their reactions when they visit. We know they will absolutely love it.
“This playground has been thoughtfully designed so that children of all abilities and interests can find something that appeals to them. Children can once again splash, swing, climb and hide in this almost two-acre playground set amongst sub-tropical planting.”
The Royal Parks charity has taken steps to improve both inclusivity and accessibility so that children of all abilities can play together.
This includes providing wheelchair accessible spaces in the Galleon and the Treehouse, the creation of a new accessible path and the addition of raised tables in the water play and sand areas. It has also added sensory planting, upgraded the musical area and provided lots of interactive play features.
The design has focused on sustainability, using timber from sustainably managed European forests and collecting water for irrigation.
