New playground in Firth Park, Sheffield will cater to more children
Changes at Firth Park in Sheffield include major improvements to the park playground.
Sheffield City Council’s charity trustee sub-committee agreed on Tuesday (January 19) to accept a grant of £100,000 from the FCC Environmental Community Fund to help fund playground improvements. The project will cost £389,440 in total, councillors heard.
The park in the suburb of Firth Park is owned by a charitable trust managed by the council and the committee takes the relevant decisions.
The playground will be renovated and extended and changes include a new adjacent play area for older children. The upgrades were planned following community consultation.
The FCC grant will fund the supply and installation of key equipment, including a large trampoline, a net climbing structure, ping pong table, a spinning device and a viper swing.
A report to the committee said: “The project responds to the need for safe, accessible and engaging play facilities for all age groups.
Accessible
“It will improve site flow and usability, introduce inclusive equipment and ensure compliance with accessibility standards.
“By investing in modern play infrastructure, the scheme contributes to maintaining Firth Park’s Green Flag status, reducing anti-social behaviour and promoting active lifestyles.”
Firth Park ward Coun Fran Belbin said: “I’ve got to thank the Friends of Firth Park who have really contributed to the design of the playground.
“It will be wheelchair accessible. It’s a fantastic asset in the park.”
Councillors also agreed to offer the lease for the park cafe to the open market in order to get best value for the charitable trust.
Jo Pearce, council service manager for business and partnerships, said that the “thriving cafe” hasn’t been offered out to tender for a few years.
Fantastic
Called Henry’s Cafe, it is currently operated by Hilary Dawtry via a tenancy at will, which is a more flexible arrangement for both sides than a lease. This was agreed for a period of two years by the committee in January 2024.
Coun Belbin said: “What a fantastic operation it is, not just the provision of food etc but a fantastic social space.”
She said the new contract should ensure that the chosen operator would continue to provide a welcoming space for older and vulnerable people.
The current operator shouldn’t feel pushed out, Coun Belbin stressed.
Ms Pearce replied: “Lots of operators have gone through this who have managed beautiful park cafe settings.
“How we frame the process offers that community warmth and people being able to sit there and get a cup of tea. We will make sure that’s written in.”
Responsible
Councillors agreed that part of the First Start Centre in the park can be leased to Cascade Multi Academy Trust for use as a nursery. The trust has been operating there as Hucklow Nursery since 2016.
A report to the committee said: “The tenancy was conditional upon them using the premises as a non-profit Ofsted-registered day nursery serving the Firth Park area and was granted at a peppercorn rental, subject to the school being responsible for the payment of a share of the running costs for the First Start building.”
The lease will replace that arrangement. Cascade will continue to contribute to the building’s running costs.
Committee chair Coun Richard Williams said that discussions have been going on for some time between the council and the operator. “Where we’ve ended up works well for the charitable trust and I think for the people running it.”