Residents joined council and housing officials recently to open Avenue Sucy Play Park and Garden, a new community space in Camberley, Surrey.
The scheme was delivered by Accent Housing in partnership with Surrey Heath Borough Council, with funding and support from both organisations, creating an outdoor space where residents of all ages can play, relax and spend time together.
The opening event featured free activities including sports, games, face painting and ice cream, as families explored the new play area and garden. Guests included the chief executive of Surrey Heath Borough Council, the mayor and deputy mayor, and local councillors.
One local parent said her three-year-old daughter had been “talking about the new park every day” since receiving information about the project, and had even slept with the accompanying leaflet. The youngster told organisers she couldn’t wait to have “a fun park instead of a boring one”.
Nick Apetroaie, chief executive of Accent, said: “I remember visiting this housing estate a year ago with local councillors and officers from Surrey Heath Borough Council, and feeling rather disappointed by the lack of safe, attractive outdoor play space for the children living here. Following a consultation with customers, it became clear that we needed to invest in improving the estate’s ageing recreational facilities.
“Seeing the smiles on children’s faces at the opening of Avenue Sucy Play Park and Garden shows exactly why projects like this matter. We want the communities where we provide homes to be places where people can thrive, and creating safe, attractive spaces for children to play and for neighbours to connect is an important part of that.
“This project is a great example of what can be achieved through partnership working with Surrey Heath Borough Council. We are delighted to have helped create a lasting community asset that will be enjoyed by local families for many years to come.”
Councillor Lisa Finan-Cooke, housing and communities portfolio holder at Surrey Heath Borough Council, said: “We are delighted to have worked alongside Accent Housing to deliver this fantastic new community space for residents. High-quality parks and green spaces play an important role in supporting health, wellbeing and stronger communities, and it has been wonderful to see so many families enjoying the facilities on opening day. This project demonstrates our shared commitment to investing in places that bring people together and create lasting benefits for the people of Camberley.”
Cara Jackson, assistant director of housing services at Accent, said: “It is fantastic to see this project come to life and make such a positive difference for local customers. The new playground and community garden provide welcoming spaces where people of all ages can spend time outdoors. It is incredibly rewarding to see the vision become a reality.
“From the outset, our aim was to create a space that supports wellbeing and brings people together. This achievement reflects the strength of partnership working between Accent Housing and Surrey Heath Borough Council, and I would like to thank everyone involved for their support and commitment.”
Main image: (Left to right) Malgorzata Durkalec (Gosia), Wealdens; Jason Kinsella; Nick Apetroaie; Cara Jackson; Cllr Mary Glauert (deputy mayor); Mayor Cliff Betton; and Nick Steevens.
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