Children’s play areas across Hackney are set to be transformed over the next year thanks to Play Pathfinder funding awarded by the Department of Children, Schools and Families (DCSF).

The funding, over £2.5 million, guarantees 28 brand new or improved play areas for children and young people in Hackney, plus a new supervised adventure playground.

Hackney Council and The Learning Trust will together create these well-designed and innovative play environments. The improved play areas will feature natural elements such as sand, water, rocks and landscaping.

In August we asked Hackney residents to suggest locations that could benefit from the money. After going though the responses and visiting over 50 play areas, 13 have now been chosen based on need and their current condition. The new play areas will be completed by March 2009

Councillor Rita Krishna, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said: “This is a wonderful opportunity for us to provide children and young people in Hackney with exciting facilities where they can learn and achieve in a safe environment. It is important that we continue to get involvement from local people to identify the play areas that will benefit most from the improvements and I urge anyone who has an interest to get in touch.”

We still need your help to find the final 15 sites to get a makeover. Tell us about any area in an estate, park or public place that could be improved for young people by visiting www.consultationfinder.com/hackney or contact Daniel Fitzpatrick on 020 8820 7005 to give us your views.

If you are a local resident you can find out more about the Play Pathfinder scheme by attending one of the play workshops that will be held in the borough throughout November and December. If you are interested, send your contact details to Daniel Fitzpatrick at: Daniel.fitzpatrick@learningtrust.co.uk