Thousands join call for splash park in Bury St Edmunds
Thousands of parents are calling for a children’s splash park to be built in Bury St Edmunds to save trips to Ipswich and Cambridge.
Last year, childminder Tara Chandler launched the ‘Bury St Edmunds Needs a Water/Splash Play Park’ Facebook group.
With membership now standing at more than 4,100, she hopes St Edmundsbury Borough Council will support the idea and help to get the project off the ground.
Currently, parents in the town wishing to take youngsters to an outdoor water or splash park have to travel to facilities in Newmarket, Cambridge, Ipswich or Felixstowe, with many wishing there was somewhere closer to home.
“A water or splash park would be something for the community and help to bring people together. Children have so much fun playing at these sort of facilities. It is so lovely to see people being outside and having fun in an almost old-fashioned way,” said Tara.
“I think our town is lacking compared to other towns and seems behind the times in some ways. I’m an Ofsted-registered childminder and I’d love to be able to take the children for a good day out in Bury.”
If the project went ahead, Tara said she would ideally like to see a wheelchair-accessible facility with changing areas and suggested Nowton Park as a possible location.
“Lots of people would love to see this in our home town. A splash or water park would also help local businesses, as people would spend money once they’re there. It would help to keep our money in the town,” she added.
Cllr Joanna Rayner, cabinet member for Leisure and Culture at St Edmundsbury Borough Council, agreed a splash park would be a ‘lovely addition’ to the town that would be well-used by local families and visitors.
“We are holding similar discussions with a group of residents in Haverhill who would like to have a splash park there. I’m keen to listen to residents’ views and work with the groups in both towns to support them in identifying possible sources of funding as well as to pinpoint a location and design that is both viable and isn’t an eyesore when it is not being used out of season,” said Cllr Rayner.
Nicole Ponder, a member of the Facebook group, said: “Ipswich and Cambridge have a splash pad. Bury is forever expanding. We have a beautiful Abbey Gardens here with playground and sandpit that is always busy on warmer days. I think a splash park would benefit our community and would be very well used.”
Kristina Rose said she felt there was not much in the town to keep children amused and out of trouble.
“I think Bury needs a water/splash park. It’ll bring the community together not just for children of all ages and abilities but for adults too.
“It’ll also bring more money into the town. In theory there will be jobs, too,” she said.
Sharon Scrivener said: “It would be a fantastic addition to Bury keeping us locals loyal to Bury instead of travelling and spending elsewhere like we are at the moment to access this type of facility.”
Members of the ‘Bury St Edmunds Needs a Water/Splash Play Park’ Facebook group got behind the idea this week:
Jake Game: Yes we need one! Many children will benefit from having a splash play park. Those who can’t get to the swimming centre for whatever reason won’t miss out. If it’s managed permanently I shouldn’t see why it will be defaced. Those who don’t like a large volume of water have the chance to have a ‘splash’.
Many people with additional needs will also benefit it as long as its disabled friendly! Nowton Park springs to mind when we say a good location because it’s not situated dead centre of the town and the traffic won’t be as bad.
Bryony Louise Allen: Bury definitely needs one, the parks here compared to the likes of Cambridgeshire are atrocious, they are all outdated. So a little splash park would be great for the kids. I think Nowton Park or Hardwick Heath would be good.
Dawn Matter: I think ‘needs’ is a bit strong! I think that Bury would like a water park is better :) It would be well used in the right weather but I feel the maintenance costs would be high. If we do have one, I would like to see it be wheelchair friendly and have waterproof wheelchairs available so that it can be inclusive. Done properly it could attract more tourism to the area. I think Nowton Park would be a good venue as it has better parking facilities.
Daisy Walters: 100%! We are spending money visiting other towns, petrol, public transport, car parking fees, then not to mention money you spend whiles you’re there. Why shouldn’t we be spending it in our own town? It doesn’t make any sense! We are constantly worried about the tourist trade, we should be helping to fund it. Also the water area at the Abbey Gardens isn’t enough. Always overrun by older kids and the smaller ones pushed out. We love going there on a warm day but can be a bit overwhelming. At least with a splash park or paddling pool there will be room for a lot more!
Kirstie Fuller: Abbey Gardens are also not gated in around the play park. I never take my little ones there any more for this reason, turn your back for one second and one has run off.
Sharon OD: Hardwick Heath would be a great place for some sort of water park/ splash park. Apart from fun for families it would boost the town. As previously mentioned, towns people spend time,money etc to visit other town’s attractions. Bury is a growing town and needs the facilities to keep up. Jobs could be created here too.
Chelsey-Marie Parker: Same here, put £100 diesel in my car in a week, travelling to four splash parks in a week.
Natalie Emms: Yes definitely! I’m always going to Felixstowe, and Cambridge etc to theirs.
Caroline Vallance: The thing about it being at Nowton Park is most of the people who’d appreciate it may not drive and it’s a long walk from town!
Hayley Nice: If Nowton park was an issue for those who live in town that don’t drive they could catch a bus to Nowton Park or Hardwick Heath which is a lot cheaper and easier than getting a bus or train to Ipswich/Felixstowe/Newmarket or Cambridge which are all the places we currently travel to to get to an outside water/splash park.
Allison Johnson: All of Bury is pretty much walkable or bus’able . I think it would be amazing :-)
Christine Glancy: There’s one in Cambridge on the edge of a park. It was very busy and it was geared up for little ones i.e. under eight, but we had a picnic in the park and spent a couple of hours there. I understand Gorleston has just opened one near the sea front. I think it would be a lovely thing to have as long as there is an area for toddlers and then something for the older children too.
Abbie Cramer: On a hot day there isn’t a lot you can do with little children. You want to get out in the sun but all too quickly you worry about getting them out of it, keeping them hydrated and needing to cool down. A splash park or large paddling pool would be ideal. We would be there all summer :)
Mandy Porter: Playgroups could go there too.
Kerry Golden: It would be fabulous, but it would need more than just a few slopes to make it accessible. Please remember it would need a changing places type area for disabled children too! It would be fabulous if it were accessible in order for disabled children to have the same opportunities to play as their able-bodied peers. The play area at the Abbey Gardens is not accessible at all.
Abbie Cramer: Yes the key would be to have a baby/toddler area and somewhere for the older ones. It’s tricky but can be done.
Nicole Ponder: Ipswich and Cambridge have a splash pad. Bury St Edmunds is forever expanding. We have a beautiful Abbey Gardens here with playground and sandpit that is always busy on warmer days. I think a splash park would benefit our community and would be very well used.
Hannah Stonehouse: Yes we need one, need more in Bury for children. Especially having very hot summers it would be well used.
Rachel Kenealy: Yes, definitely, especially for families who don’t have transport to go out of Bury. It’s a must.
Colette Faye: Yes, we need one. Also need one that is wheelchair-friendly. Bury hasn’t got much in the way of facilities for children or young people both able and non able-bodied. Would be nice to have things for all to do, such as water parks and indoor play centres.
Bury is a growing town but unfortunately lacks facilities so families/groups that cater for children’s needs etc go elsewhere rather than the local town, which obviously is costly. Something closer and more affordable/cheap or even free would be an advantage. Plus there are loads of great places/parks within walking distance from the town that would welcome such benefits.
Vicky Williams: It would be of great benefit to the mums, dads and carers of Bury, many of whom can’t get over to Cambridge. The one at Lammas Land in Cambridge is a great example. Hardwick Heath could greatly benefit from this as Nowton already has a lot of stuff going on.
Caro Caroline: It’s a great idea for a fun, outdoor activity that would bring people together. I live in Bury, but I also think that Haverhill would benefit from a water park on the Recreation Ground.
Kirstie Mitchell: Great idea – we travel a lot to splash parks.
Vicky Williams: Could the play area and splash pool be fenced off? There’s still a lot of space left for dog walkers.
Jay Wandera: Having just moved here from Brandon I feel Bury would benefit from a water park. Abbey Gardens are fantastic but the play area is small for the amount of people in Bury. I know lots of people who travel to Cambridge to use the one there. I’m sure the town would benefit from it.
Chris Fitzjohn: Nowton Park would be best place as plenty of parking and parking reasonable. We go on bus or train to Newmarket, not a great water feature, water just sprays out every half hour for 10 minutes, but the children love it, there would be plenty of room to do this in fenced area in play park at Nowton. The council will never agree to Abbey Gardens, I tried to get decent play equipment in their for all ages and disabilities, but they refused, even had report in BFP few years ago to support us but they would not budge, Abbey Gardens is for tourists not locals was the impression I was continuously given, I did get some safety issues dealt with but that was it.
Helen Graham: Be lovely, summers seem to be getting hotter and longer so ideal for families to spend quality time with one of nature’s gifts: water. Instead of missing out as can not afford other commercialised activities.
Kristina Rose: I think Bury needs a water/splash park... it’ll bring the community together not just for children of all ages and abilities but for adults too. It’ll also bring more money into the town which will also mean more people, in theory there will be jobs too. Nowton Park or even Hardwick Heath would be two ideal places for the attraction. There really isn’t much in Bury to keep children amused and out of trouble
Terri Bishop: Yes definitely!.... would be well used as apart from parks, skatepark, Curve Motion and leisure centre that turns people away as it gets too full, there is nothing for children to do here in Bury St Edmunds.
Maria Gregory: I’m visiting USA at moment and there is a lovely splash park nearby. It has water continuously running and I was told it’s recycled water so not wasted water.
Nicola Foyle: Nowton Park would be the perfect place, café, park, huge car park, cheap parking and plenty of space for a picnic.
Jo Cobbett: We’d love one, I agree with Nicola, Nowton Park would be a great place for it.
Deborah Futte: Yes, would definitely use!
Alison Banham: It’s a brilliant idea. Children love water and apart from the sandpit water pump in the Happy Gardens as my three-year-old granddaughter calls it or the swimming pool which isn’t always convenient, there is nothing in Bury. I know my little gd would love it. She sits in the water trough that the pump pumps water into and gets soaked and loves it. It is needed and will be well used.
The best place would be Nowton Park as the parking is great there. Hope this helps.
Kirstie Fuller: I would love a splash park in Bury, I have four little ones so when we want to go to a splash park we have to pack up the car and go on our travels sometimes. This not so easy. I am soon to be a childminder too so would love somewhere that I could take all the children to splash around on a sunny day! I think it would be great for Bury!
Abbie Cramer: I keep thinking the old disused tennis courts in the Abbey would be perfect for a little splash feature...would mean the ruins get some attention again, lots of shady bits and hidey bits in there too.
Katie Kitty-Kitkat Parker: We don’t have a lot of choice of activities to do with young children in Bury. We have the parks and Abbey Gardens has the sand and water area. But bar that all we have is Curve Motion which is really expensive. I think it would be a really fun and cheap to run day out and kids would absolutely love it!
Tracey Anne: Yes, it would be lovely.
Tara Chandler: I personally think Nowton Park – it’s closed at night has plenty of parking has toilet area and coffee shop – or near the sports centre area, especially if college car park could be used for parking (but that wouldn’t work when college on). Abbey Gardens would be good if it was a splash zone as already have water going to the pump again toilets and café there and lots of areas for parking and not far to walk from town bus station. But as pointed out Abbey is a tourist attraction rather than thinking of locals that use daily/weekly.
Alison Newton: It would be a fantastic idea as there’s not a lot for children to do in this town. I think Moreton Hall area would be good as there’s nothing that side of town for children to do.
Lynsey Barlow: Definitely a great idea.
Joanna Jane Oliver: It would be a fantastic addition to the town and possibly help attract more people to visit us and help out local shops and businesses!
Kathryn Whiteway: Would love one.
Laura Gray: I think it would be such valuable attraction to our growing town. My children love a splash park but as we have to travel to Ipswich or Cambridge to enjoy one it’s not enjoyed as much as it could be if it was in on our own doorstep. We are lacking with some of our facilities in Bury for children. As a parent it’s not always easy finding things to entertain the children that isn’t too costly or doesn’t involve an iPad these days. Nowton Park I think would be a perfect location, they have done a good job revamping the café down there already. Lovely location, I think it would be well used.
Lynne Whiting: Cheap day out! Us mums know days out can be very expensive with children so gr8 idea, perfect! As for location, what about Hardwick Heath?
Claire Louise: Honestly they are such valuable assets to the community. It’s so difficult to find an inexpensive day out with the children and a well designed splash zone would provide such an asset. Prime locations would require ample parking and accessibility, potentially Hardwick Heath, Nowton Park or the Abbey Gardens would be perfect locations. Our community is only getting bigger and I think the increasing population warrants more than one to accommodate busy periods.
Sallyanne Quilton: I think a splash park would be a great idea and meet many needs of our ever growing town, but instead of adding it to existing popular parks which are used for the existing facilities we could look to create a new ‘green space’. Maybe in Thurston – just outside of town but on the train route for the town folk and also include the skate park in the planning?
Tina Price: I think a central location would be best and easiest for access for parents with no transport or who rely on public transport, or foot. Really hope this is possible for the enjoyment of the children of this town and surrounding villages and towns. It would be much appreciated by all.
Linda Bland: Definitely need one.
Chelsey-Marie Parker: Oh yes, most definitely. In the summer I travel to Lammas Land in Cambridge at least twice a week. It’s lovely there, my children love it. Shame about my bank balance as I’m using so much fuel. Also I’m travelling to Gorleston at the weekend to go to the new splash pad. And at Ipswich splash park tomorrow. Every one I go to is amazing and very busy. Such a popular attraction it will have so much use out of it. There is not much for our children to do in Bury and this can change our children’s lives. Get them out and be active with them! I think Nowton Park would be the best location.
We need one, please decision-makers do this for us parents and children. Always said I wouldn’t even mind paying or donating money when using this. Oh, and I wouldn’t recommend Hardwick Heath as car park is small – a lot of people use that car park for the hospital if that is full. I could see it being a nightmare. Vote Nowton if they did go ahead.
Gillian Cornwell: Yes, it would be an asset for the town.
Sharon Scrivener: It’s fantastic idea, it would be a fantastic addition to Bury keeping us locals loyal to Bury instead of travelling and spending elsewhere like we are at the moment to access this type of facility. I agree with comments above – it needs to be well thought out with separate areas for younger and older children and have facilities for children/adults with disabilities/additional needs. Nowton Park would be a good option or what about the new estate Marham Park, isn’t there leisure facilities mentioned/being planned for there?
Clare Fraser: A splash park would be a brilliant idea. How many people travel to Cambridge to bring their children out for the day? The people it would bring to our town will help drive up trade for our businesses. There are lots of parks around the town but to help our businesses the Abbey Gardens would be a perfect location. My only concern as a mum to younger children is how to ensure some older kids don’t ruin for the younger ones. This helps to keep our children active as they will be running around and helps mums or dads alike bond and get out of the house with their kids.
Stacy Brien: Brilliant idea. Would definitely be used a lot! You only have to look at Abbey Gardens to see that.
Fiona C M Lee: A splash park would be absolutely amazing for Bury and the children. I have three young children and we’ve recently travelled to Norwich and Cambridge to use splash parks there. I think it’s important to consider parking though as you need a lot of gear when you’re planning to spend the day there. Swimming stuff, changes of clothes, rug, picnic etc etc. I think Nowton Park would be ideal. Loads of parking, plenty of space and a café and playground already there to use too.
Denice Manning: I agree when we travelled to one of the Ipswich ones it was a nightmare carrying picnic things swimming and the usual changing bag items with four children, luckily there were three adults as well otherwise we wouldn’t have managed, we need a place where you can park nearby so easy for families with cars and for families who need to use public transport the bus stop is only two mins walk away.
Nowton Park gets my vote as there is plenty of parking, it gets locked at night, lovely woodlands, play area, toilets, small café, plenty of space so ideal for families
It would need to be suitable for all ages also disabled children, as there’s hardly anything for them and they should be able to play too.
I am 100 per cent sure it will be used so much and enjoyed by so many people in and around Bury and further. Also as there’s water mains down the Abbey Gardens already I can see why there couldn’t be a small splash pad there too as there’s an empty space the far side of the sandpit not being used, also toilets would be a bonus down there too.
Babs Hinchliffe: Yes we need one, must situated on a good bus route, not every young mum has a car.
Lisa Drake: Bury would definitely benefit from one. A lot of people I know spend money travelling to where they are in the summer months. It would help encourage children be active and attract people to our lovely town. On location I’d say town traffic is pretty heavy already so somewhere on the edge of town with parking and near a bus route. Agree with the parks mentioned Hardwick and Nowton as the other facilities are already in place. However Hardwick parking gets busy with the hospital so may not be a good idea to make it any more popular.
Wendy Chipping: Great idea.
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