Reed Village
The website of Reed Parish Council
Playground survey
2022
Thank you to
everyone who
responded to the
survey about the
village playground
carried out in August
and September 2022.
The results are
summarised below.
Reed Parish Council is
seeking the views of
residents and users
of the Green about
the future of the play
area.
Situated at the Church Lane end of the Green, the play
area is well used throughout the year. However, all play
apparatus has a limited lifespan and the Parish Council
needs to make plans for its renovation or replacement—
most likely progressively over the next 5 to 10 years. This
survey was an opportunity for local people and children to
be involved in refurbishment plans for the play area.
The Parish Council will consider next steps in the light of
the responses.
40 online responses and 23 written ones were received.
Q1 Age (if you are a child)
20 children aged from 4 – 13
41 adults
2 unknown
Q2 Where do you live?
Reed
30
48%
Barkway
7
11%
Therfield
3
5%
Royston
9
14%
Buntingford
5
8%
Cottred
1
2%
Furneaux Pelham
2
3%
Kelshall
1
2%
Chipping
1
2%
Bishop Stortford
2
3%
Not answered
2
3%
Q3 Do you use the play area?
Yes
55 87% No 8
13%
If not, why?
Don’t have children
2
Children too old, loved when small
3
Children too young
1
Q4 Do you feel safe?
Yes
44
69%
No
3
5%
Usually
10
16%
n/a
6 10%
Comments:
It is quite easy for children to run onto the road
No gates
Climbing frames could be safer
Equipment a bit old and definitely needs renovation
Some of the equipment is missing I liked the climbing tyres
There is some broken things now like the tyres.
Q5 How often do you use the equipment?
Every day
0
2 -3 times a week
18
Once a week
15
Few times a month
18
Rarely
3
Never
3
Not answered
6
Q6 Who uses the play area?
Own children
45
Grandchildren
6
Friends/visitors
15
n/a
2
not answered
8
Q7 Play area equipment
Some of the playground equipment is nearing the end of
its life and may need to be replaced. We would therefore
like to know which pieces of existing equipment you most
value. Please tick “keep” or “change” against all the
equipment in the list opposite. By “keep”, we mean either
keep the equipment in question or make a like-for-like
replacement. By “change” we mean that something else might
be substituted for it when it is no longer useable.
Q8 Picnic bench use
Often
26
Sometimes
24
Never
11
Not answered
2
Q 9
What, if anything, would you like to see changed in the
play area?
a)
Different or additional play equipment
9b) surfacing
29 respondents said grass was fine
9 respondents suggested soft rubber surfacing as at
Royston play area
13 respondents suggested a hard surface under the
basketball net.
Comments included:
I love hiding in the long grass if we keep the basket ball net
it would be great to have a better surface.
It is hard to access in the first place. And has very uneven
ground that is particularly challenging for people with
additional needs.
It is very uneven at the moment for a pushchair it needs to
be levelled at the very least
I like the grass, feels more like a park & great for picnics
Under the slide and zip wire it would be better to have a
soft surface and under the basketball net it would be
better to have hardstanding.
Matting under the equipment which is high and falls could
be dangerous.
Grass is in keeping with the green and perfectly adequate
Grass is ok but the steep slope at entrance is difficult with
buggies/wheelchairs
9c) Anything else?
Basketball court
Benches for rain
Needs a safety gate fence
Would not mind fence around with a little gate if not too
expensive and won't interrupt the amount of new
equipments.
More equipment
It’s a lovely park but an update would be great. Barkway
recently put a larger play climbing frame in which was
meant for older children but those that use it lots can from
3/4+ years. It is a little close to the bushes so a good trim
and new equipment would be lovely. The children like the
net swings, large things to climb on and a disabled swing
or similar would attract more people
Please keep this alive. I see this as a real asset to the
community
Adequate fencing and a gate around the park to prevent
dogs from entering and also to keep the children
contained and safe from traffic/strangers.
Access to the park isn’t great from the road or the cricket
pitch
The zip wire, bucket green swing and the basketball hoop
are hot favourites in our household.
A fantastic park & one which we should look after &
update to ensure its just as good in the future
It would be better if some of the grass on the approach to
the playground could be cut shorter/more frequently as if
you’re crossing the green to get to the playground it can be
difficult to get through the long grass
Q10 Other comments
It would be nice to have outdoor gym equipment so
families could use the area together, and those without
children could also make use of the area.
The spikey conkers hurt you if you fall over when they are
all over the floor and on the bench.
Please choose swings that are not hard to push and also
that are high enough with a safe seat/harness.
It's an excellent facility to have in the village and many of
our visitors appreciate it.
In generally I find it a lovely park and it’s a nice place to be
with the children
We love our little playground.
Things for older children as well as young
The park is lovely and used lots after our cricket sessions.
More climbing for older ones would be good and a slash
area would be amazing - even the small one at Royston is
so well used - so similar would be ideal
This is a real asset to our community
High quality equipment is the priority and if this means
less equipment than before, then so be it.
It’s a lovely park, with no visible graffiti and is well used by
local children, grandchildren of local residents and visitors,
particularly during cricket matches/practice it definitely
enhances the village.
It Is a lovely, well maintained park and a great asset for the
village.
Proper climbing frame
Football goal, climbing wall, mini golf, rope climbing, water
fountain splash park, toilet
Taller climbing equipment. We use it at weekend more in
half terms
From my years of grass cutting and watching children on
the play equipment it would seem that the seesaw, zip
wire and social swing are the most popular. Some people
have requested a hard surface by the basketball net which
we feel is inappropriate in the village green
Excellent facility keep at all costs, thank you to all involved
in the upkeep
Perhaps a miniature football net? and small trampoline?
Used play area frequently when grandchildren were
younger, all too old now!
If you would like to know more or respond to any of the
questions above, please email
barbara.blower@reedparishcouncil.gov.uk or ask any of
the Parish Councillors.
Wheelchair friendly
1
More/new things to play on
Trampoline in ground
7
Remove see saw
Climbing treehouse/fort on
different levels
4
Jeep or car to drive
Skateboard area
1
Bouncy toys with springs
Upgrade tyre swing
1
Refurbish zip wire
Additional needs equipment
2
Football goals
More/upgrade swings
4
Tarmac area for bikes
Splash park
2
Sand pit
Climbing frame with monkey
bars
21
Better/more baby swings
roundabout
11
Upgrade activity trail
Hard standing for basketball
4
Workout equipment
Junior multiplay
35
25
3
Activity trail
29
32
2
Basketball net
34
28
1
See saw
35
24
4
Basket swing
55
5
3
Tyre swing
29
32
2
Zip wire
57
6
Infant swing
30
28
5
Junior swings
49
10
4
Main slide
49
12
2
Equipment
Keep
change
Not answered