Playgrounds are set to swing back into action from Saturday 4 July. In line with the Government’s latest guidance, Wokingham Borough Council is working hard to safely open its play areas to the public. The council will operate a staggered approach, in opening each of its 99 playgrounds, ensuring each site meets the Covid-19 safety guidance.
From 8am on Saturday, the council’s localities team will head out across the borough to individually assess each location. The openings will take place over the next week, with the expectation that bigger destination play areas will open first, where deemed safe to do so. Dinton Pastures and California Country Park, anticipate opening each site playgrounds on Tuesday 7 July.
Local town and parish council’s will also be taking a staggered approach to opening their play areas across the borough to ensure that they are safe to use.
Visitors may find some pieces of equipment with notices not to use them. This is to ensure that the two-metre distance can be adhered to, along with signage outlining safety measures. If residents do find that a park remains closed, it is most likely that our team is working to fix a health and safety issue, such as broken equipment or facilities. We would like to remind residents not to use parks that are closed, for their own safety.
Cllr Parry Batth, executive member for environment and leisure, said: “We want our residents to come back to the play areas but, we want them to do so safely, which is why we are taking our time re-opening each site. Our dedicated teams will be making individual assessments at each play area and implementing new safety procedures where necessary. We encourage parents and carers to follow the guidelines for staying safe in the parks to make sure they can be enjoyed by everyone.”
Play park users are asked to adhere to the following guidance to keep themselves and others safe when using the play areas:
- Don’t use the play area if you have symptoms of coronavirus
- Keep 2m apart at all times
- Wash your hands before and after entering the playground
- Catch any coughs or sneezes in a tissue and dispose of it safely
- Only one child on equipment at any time
- Only one parent or carer per child where possible
- No food or drink to be consumed in the play area on equipment at any time
- Bring your own hand sanitiser, gel or wipes
- Limit your stay to 30 minutes at busy times
- Please take your litter home with you if the bins are full
All of the borough’s play areas will be inspected weekly to make sure they are safe, and we will continually review the effectiveness of the enhanced guidance on keeping safe during the Covid-19 outbreak.
The Council aims to have all suitable locations open by Saturday 11 July. Scroll down for a list of open and closed locations.
ARBORFIELD
- Anderson Crescent
- Penrose Park 1 (Attwood Drive)
- Penrose Park 2 (Howell Close)
BARKHAM
- The Junipers (includes Youth Shelter)
CHARVIL
- East Park Farm – Junior & Youth Shelter (Vale View)
- Park Lane
EARLEY
- Alder Close
- Carnival Field – Junior (Kilnsea Drive) includes basketball post
- Carnival Field – Toddler (Kilnea Drive) & Carnival Field – Youth Shelter
- Chalfont Park – (Tiptree Close)
- Chalfont Pavilion – (Chalfont Way)
- Chatteris Way – (Wimblington Drive) includes basketball post
- Conygree Close
- Easington Drive
- Kensington Close
- Laurel Park – Junior (Marefield) includes basketball post
- Laurel Park – Toddler (Marefield)
- Measham Way
- Odell Close
- Red house Close
- Riverside Park (Toseland Way) Kelton Close
- Ryhill Way (Worrell Way)
- Skelmerdale West
- Thanington Way
- Wellington Grange (Paddick Drive)
- Wickham Road
FINCHAMPSTEAD
- Gorse Ride South
- Gorse Ride Woods (Whittle Close)
- Gorse Ride Community (Gorse Ride North)
- Roycroft Lane
- Waverley Way
- Wood moor
RUSCOMBE
SHINFIELD
- Blackwater Close
- Century Drive
- Church Farm (Dearden Way)
- Clements Close
- Drewett Close
- Frensham Green
- Montague Close (Skylark Way)
- Kingfisher Grove (Grazley Road)
- Warrens Croft (Benham Drive)
- Ducketts Mead
- Met Office (Perigee)
- Cutbush Lane - (Pippin Grove)
- The Manor – Shinfield
TWYFORD
- Hurst Park (Hurst Park Road)
- Orchard Park
- Verey Close
- Waltham Chase (Poundfield Way)
- Wessex Gardens
WINNERSH
- Alnatt Avenue
- Bathurst Road
- Rainbow Park
- Rainbow Park POS
- Laburnum Road
- Longdon Road (Dolphin Close)
- Watmore Lane
- Dunstans Drive
- Chatsworth Avenue
- Chatsworth Avenue 2
- Winnersh Meadows
WOODLEY
- Alderwood (Mannock Drive)
- Ashenbury Park (Denmark Avenue)
- Blanchard Close
- Enstone Road
- Hearn Road
- Mollison Way
- Redwood Avenue
- Sandford Park (Hurricane Way) includes basketball centre
- Southlake Amenity (Kingfisher Drive)
- South lake Crescent
- Vauxhall Drive
- Vauxhall BMX
- Woodley Shops
- Badgers Rise
WOKINGHAM
- Ashridge Road
- Barkham Recreation Ground (Latimer Road)
- Campion Way
- Cantley Park (Twyford Road)
- Charwood Road
- Chestnut Park (Ruskin Way) includes basketball post & youth shelter
- Culloden Way
- Elms Field
- Heron Field (includes basketball post)
- Keephatch Park Junior (Dyer Road)
- Keephatch Park Toddler (Dyer Road)
- Lowther Road
- Manor Road
- Oakey Drive
- Pigott Road
- Shefford Crescent
- Simons Park
- Sirius Close
- Woosehill Meadows (
- The Carillons – Plough Lane
- Dowles Green (Rosebay)
CLOSED
- Gorse Ride (FBC) & MUGA
- Mornington Avenue
- Plough Lane (Buttercup Close)
- St Crispins Skatepark (London Road)
