Help us rebuild the Weston Playpark in Otley

Friends of Weston Playpark are raising funds to fully redesign and rebuilt the play park on the Weston estate in Otley. We are working closely with the local community, including the local primary school and other local community groups to create a space where families want to spend their play time.

Why are we doing this?

The park has had no significant updates since it was built around 40 years ago. The park is owned and maintained by Leeds City Council. Unfortunately in recent years the council budgets to support the development and maintenance of play parks across the city have been significantly reduced meaning that central funding to support this work is not available. The current park is outdated, unappealing, in poor working order, unimaginative, and inaccessible to younger/smaller children and children with additional access needs. Many parents in the area do not allow their children to play in the current park as they feel it is unsafe.

The nearest alternative play park for families who live in this area is Wharfemeadows Park, located in the centre of Otley. This is approximately a 20-minute walk from the Weston playpark (but can take up to 2 days if one of the children you’re walking with is a tired toddler) meaning that for those families who do not have access to private transport, their ability to access this regularly can be very limited. There are no other amenities or parks for families to access North of the river.

We strongly believe that the children and families in this area deserve to have access to a safe, fun, accessible, attractive, exciting, modern and engaging space to play, learn and socialise and that the redesign and rebuilding of the park will help to further promote a sense of community and pride in the area.

Our journey so far

In 2019, before Friends of Weston Playpark was established, Otley Town Council worked with Kompan who is the approved supplier for Leeds City Council, to develop an initial plan and quote for the work to be completed. Based on that design the work required at the time was quoted at £100,000. Friends of Weston Playpark believe that those designs were relatively conservative and we are aiming to be bigger and bolder in our ambitions for the space. We therefore envisage (also taking into consideration the general cost increases in materials since 2019), that the cost to complete the work will be significantly higher than this. We are in the process of working with Kompan to develop new plans and revised quotes.

Through previous crowdfunding, we have raised £1,200 so far, which we are so grateful for, however, we need to keep pushing to reach our end goal.

Our plans

In addition to crowdfunding, we will also be looking to partake in lots of other fundraising activities. We have an agreement with Otley Town Council that they will kindly match funding for the project up to £25,000. We will also be applying for various grants, and organising fundraising events and you will see our faces at the key events in the Otley calendar shaking our buckets.

What do we need from you?

To make this project a success we need the support of our community, not only to raise the funds we need, but to share the work we’re doing with your friends and families so we can get the word out. There have been so many successful fundraising projects in Otley recently which demonstrates the enthusiasm the people have to make it a great place to live. We would love to be the next one on the success list!

And finally

We just wanted to take the opportunity to thank you for your support, every penny donated makes us do a little shimmy of joy!