We are inviting local residents to help choose a design for improving the play area at Kenavon Drive and the surrounding riverside area in central Reading.
The new Kingsmead development and its neighbouring Kennet Walk housing site to the east of the town centre will soon see a new playground and enhanced landscaping coming to the area. The play area will see £100,000 invested - with the funds for this new play area from the developer of the new Kingsmead flats and houses, as a condition attached to the original planning consent.
The new play area will include a mix of play equipment including equipment accessible to all abilities. The improvement and enlargement of this playground mean it will benefit from new multi-units for children of all ages, a combination swing unit, play panels and a seesaw. There will also be new surfacing and floor graphics.
Along with the new play area, there will also be landscaping improvements around the site. Further funding will see the nearby riverside enhanced with new landscaping, bulb and meadow planting, tree works and additional tree planting.
We have invited several leading specialist companies to put forward their designs for the refurbishment. We will be consulting on the three shortlisted designs between Monday 22 November and Thursday 16 December 2021.
View the designs and have your say
The results from the consultation will form a significant part of the selection process of the winning design. The selection process includes consultation with our Accessible Play Task and Finish Group, our parks team’s technical and value for money assessments.
The winning design will be announced in December 2021.