Bournemouth | Posted on November 2nd, 2026 | return to news

Zip along to refurbished Bournemouth play area

Kings Park Play area in Boscombe is the latest facility to be upgraded as part of BCP Council’s Plan for Play strategy.

Children can now enjoy swings, slides, climbing equipment and a new zip-wire at the refurbished Kings Park Play area in Boscombe.

As part of Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole (BCP) Council’s Plan for Play strategy a total of £185,000 has been invested in the facilities.

Cllr Andy Hadley, BCP Council’s portfolio holder for parks, said: “Kings Park is one of our area’s most valued green spaces – and we know how important it is to the surrounding community.

“Throughout Plan for Play we’ve been clear that bringing new life to the play area was a key priority for BCP Council and I am so pleased to see these upgrades now complete.

“We’re proud to have worked with local children and young people to have created a space where they can be active, challenge themselves, build confidence and, most importantly, have fun.”

The design has been directly shaped by ideas from the local community and has taken on a nature theme: balancing challenging play for older adventurers with quieter sections aimed at improving everyone’s enjoyment of the facilities.

At the heart of the play area is a large multi-play unit with ramped access, alongside a wide slide, carousel, wheelchair-accessible roundabout and inclusive seesaw.

Cllr Sandra Moore, BCP Council’s portfolio holder for play strategy, said: “This is exactly what Plan for Play is about: bringing new life and ideas to much-loved parks that are at the centre of our communities.

“Kings Park epitomises just that and I am delighted to see it re-open and for local families to start enjoying everything the new play area has to offer.

“We know play is vital to children’s health, wellbeing and development and this refurbishment means many in the community will benefit for many years to come.”

The major refurbishment is the latest in BCP Council’s extensive Plan for Play improvement strategy, approved by councillors in December 2024, that is seeing more than £4.6 million invested into refurbishments, repairs and improvements at around 100 play areas.

That includes a mixture of full replacements and upgrades – at the likes of Queen’s Park, Treasure Island, and Bourne Valley – as well as new equipment and smaller upgrades at dozens of additional sites, including Oakdale, Central Gardens and Barrack Road.

Major refurbishments in November include Hamworthy Park, Dawkins Road, Haskells Rec, and plenty more.