Arrrgh! That was the piratey sound of approval from Boston Borough Council’s Cabinet to a proposal for a pirate ship for Woodville Road play area.
Boston Town Area Committee play area working group proposed £40,000 improvements to Shelton’s Field, St John’s Park and Woodville Road play area. Spending by BTAC in excess of £10,000 has to receive Cabinet approval.
Cllr Martin Griggs said consultation with play area users had taken place and the improvements were in line with what residents had asked for.
The provision of the pirate ship is subject to quotes being received and £15,095 has been earmarked.
St John’s Park is to get musical play panels and goal posts and Shelton’s Field will receive a higher slide, four tower units with two bridges, a play-and-stay net and a crazy scrambler springer.
Shelton’s Field and Burgess Pit are currently pictures of wildlife loveliness.
Cllr Chelcei Sharman, portfolio holder for parks and open spaces, said: “We have some beautiful open spaces around Boston and to be able to develop some of them further for our younger generation is fantastic. A pirate ship will be a great new addition for all ages to enjoy and I know my children will certainly love to play on this when it is installed “
Frances Taylor, Boston Borough Council’s play officer said: “Along with the new outdoor gym equipment and trim trails that have just been installed in St John’s Park and Burgess Pit, Boston will have a fantastic array of play and exercise equipment free to use by the community whenever they wish.
“The Pirate Ship will allow several children to climb aboard at the same time as it has many different play aspects on different levels. It is an amazing piece of equipment.
“We also have a multi-use games area being constructed on Garfit’s Lane Play Area. Work will commence on Monday, June 10, and will be completed before the beginning of the summer holidays.
“These projects have all come to be by consulting with the community and I am proud to be involved in giving the community what it ‘wished’ for.”
Deputy Leader Cllr Nigel Welton said: “I have had many complimentary remarks from members of the public, especially about the way in which our grounds staff have cut neat paths through the wildflower areas so that they can be viewed from all angles. They really do look a picture at the moment and it is gratifying to know that the areas are so well used and appreciated.”
Kev Field, from the council’s parks and grounds team, said: “This was as a result of excellent collaborative working between BTAC councillors and the grounds staff. We met with councillors from BTAC, they told us what they’d like to see happen, but then left us to get on with it, because that’s what we do
“Everyone is pleased with the result.”
The area in Burgess Pit began life as a community orchard, and there are plums, pears, apples and damson, and the young fruit will be ready for picking and eating when they grow and ripen.
The addition of wild flower seeds has seen pollinator-insect friendly oxeye daisy, corncrake, buttercups and poppies and teasel, which the birds love, flourish.
Trevor Wright, from the council’s grounds team, cuts the grass paths through the Burgess Pit wild flower meadow.
One of the frog bins in the Burgess Pit play area, made to encourage children to dispose of their litter responsibly. Look out for six hoppy-frog bins around town. 20 additional litter bins with cigarette reservoirs, litter pickers and two industrial-sized street vacs have been purchased using Government Town Centre Improvement funding.
The pirate ship at Woodville Road play area could look similar to this
Shelton’s Field Meadow