Reporting an issue
The majority of children's play areas are managed by local organisations rather than Cornwall Council. Signs on site will usually identify the owner or provide contact information.
Our Environment Service manages 123 children's equipped play areas and teenage facilities. These are regularly inspected. If you wish to report an issue with one that you think belongs to Cornwall Council, please email environmentservice@cornwall.gov.uk.
Where immediate repairs are possible, they are put in place quickly. Sometimes it is necessary to temporarily fence off areas. This is until a more permanent solution can be delivered. In some cases, a piece of play equipment or other feature will have reached the end of its usable life and has to be removed.
We will invest in improving or renovating children's play areas. This is in accordance with clear priorities and standards. These are set out in the local Open Space Strategy. Improvements can only be made where funding is available. Funding for improvements is sometimes available from local housing development. Often this is through a Section 106 fund. We also greatly value the support of local community groups. These groups:
- Help raise funds from other external sources
- Help steer the design of improvements
- Participate in additional volunteer activities
Play improvement projects
Are you developing a project to invest in a play area that is not on our project list below? It is worth checking that the facility is strategically a priority. The Open Space Strategy for the local area will indicate where resources are best focused. Some very small play areas have very limited use and can often be poorly located. The community is better served by better quality equipped play areas that are accessible to the largest population. Where possible we aim to ensure that all residents have access to some form of open space for informal play.
Developing your own play project? For more information Cornwall Council has produced the Out To Play guide.
Funding for play improvements is potentially available from a number of sources. These are identified in the Open Space Strategy. Where available Section 106 funds are a potential local source. This depends on whether there having been recent housing developments in the immediate area or not
Play projects
To learn more or to get involved in any of the schemes listed below, please e-mail environmentservice@cornwall.gov.uk
Current play projects (2024/25)
- Brea Play Area, Camborne – new equipment (section 106 funded)
- Bull Engine Skate Area, St Blazey
- Charles Street Play Area, Bugle – renovations
- Cotehele Close Play Area, Callington – renovations and new swings
- Gwavas Play Area, Newlyn, Penzance - renovations and new equipment (Community Infrastructure Levy and grant funded)
- Harmony Close Play Area, Redruth – renovations and new multi-play climbing unit (section 106 funded)
- Millpool Play Area, Looe – renovations
- Summerfields Play Area Phase 2, St Stephens, Saltash - new equipment (Community Infrastructure Levy, section 106 and grant funded and grass-roots fund-raising)
- Trenance Play Area, Newquay (Community Infrastructure Levy and section 106 funded)
- Treskerby Playing Field, Mount Ambrose, Redruth (section 106 funded)
Recent play projects
- Castle Park Play Area, Liskeard. Improvements during 2020
- Culverland Park, Liskeard. Renovations undertaken 2019/20
- Hallaze Road Play Area, Penwithick. Renovation of large swing apparatus due in 2020
- Longstone Play Area, Saltash - access realignment and new fencing
- Park Bottom Playing Field, Illogan. Completed in Aug 2020
- Saltmill Play Park, Saltash - new equipment Apr 2023
- Seaton Play Area. Work on phase 1 was completed in Oct 2020
- Twelvewoods Play Area, Dobwalls = access improvements 2023
Need help?
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