A PLAY Park which has been used by generations of Otley children and lies in the heart of the Weston Estate has become the focus of funding drive by a Friends group whose aim is to restore the open space to its former glory and bring it back into the centre of the community.

The Friends of Weston Play Park group is looking at bringing new equipment in to encourage active play and ensure accessible fun. To cater for different ages, there will be more opportunity for balancing and climbing challenges, together with the fun of sliding, swinging and spinning.

The group has been supported from the outset by City Councillors Colin Campbell, Ryk Downes, and Sandy Lay and by the Ashfield ward town councillors, who organised the first meeting in March last year.

In the intervening period, a steering group has been established, meetings have been held with Leeds City Council Parks Department and a potential contractor and plans have begun to be drawn up. The town council has also promised matched funding of up to £25,000, so every penny raised by the group can be doubled up to that amount.

This month the group launched a community crowd funder to give the fundraising a great start and impress backers such as the National Lottery with the commitment of local people.

Danielle Upton, a parent and the chair of the Weston Play Park steering group said: “Every penny the local community gives to the crowd funder will be doubled by Otley Town Council and, armed with this, we can make bids to national and local charities for help. Please give what you can, even if it seems a tiny amount. It will make a difference.”

The group has been supported by town councillors, Sylvia Thomson, and Sarah Hughes, who both know the local community well. Sylvia ran the Weston Lane Post Office for many years, and Sarah worked at Ashfield School.

“Every child needs a safe place to play”, said Councillor Thomson. “Councillors have worked to find funding for improvements and will continue to support this brilliant initiative.” Councillor Hughes added “I know many of the local children and it was clear to me that this project is badly needed. I am really pleased to be involved.”

There are also plans to improve the space around the play equipment. Otley 2030 has also been supportive, and the group is keen to work with Wildlife Friendly Otley and other groups dedicated to improving biodiversity and the Otley environment.

The link to the crowd funder is https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/friends-of-weston-playpark