Funding confirmed for new children’s play area and outdoor gym in Pleck Park

Pleck Park in Walsall will soon be improved thanks to funding from FCC Communities Foundation, a not-for-profit business that awards grants for community, conservation and heritage projects.

FCC Communities Foundation is providing a £60,000 grant, which will be used to supply and install a new children’s play area at the park.    

This will form part of a wider £250,000 Pleck Park Improvement Programme, which is match-funded by Walsall Council.   

As well as a new children’s play area, the improvements include a new outdoor gym. The existing old play area site will be reused and repurposed into an enclosed dog-friendly user area.    

Work is set to get underway this month and is expected to be complete by the end of March 2025.    

Councillor Gary Flint, Portfolio Holder for Health and Wellbeing at Walsall Council, believes the Pleck Park Improvement Programme will make a huge difference to the lives of people living in the area and support a healthier community.    

He said, “I’m delighted to be supporting this programme. We want residents to take pride in their local park, and our vision is to improve Pleck Park as a green space for local residents, enhance community well-being and provide free to access recreational facilities.    

“I’d like to thank FCC Communities Foundation for providing the funding to make this programme become a reality. It will be a real boost to the local community and I’m looking forward to seeing the new facilities take shape over the next few months. We have real ambitions for the park and I’m hoping it will achieve the prestigious Green Flag status in future years.”    

The creation of volunteering opportunities and involvement of the Friends of Pleck Park forms part of the improvement programme too. Twelve volunteer opportunities will be created for young people aged 16-25, aligning to the council’s healthy spaces vision to ‘increase sustainability through increased use of volunteers'.    

FCC Communities Foundation is a not-for-profit business that awards grants for community projects through the Landfill Communities Fund.   

Cheryl Raynor, FCC Communities Foundation Grant Manager, said, “We’re delighted to be supporting the project at Pleck Park, and pleased our funding will provide a fun space for children to enjoy.  FCC Communities Foundation is always happy to consider grant applications for projects that make a difference to local communities and we’re really looking forward to seeing this one take shape soon.”