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Cowplain Recreation Ground (Padnell Park)

We want to hear your thoughts on anticipated refurbishment works at Cowplain Recreation Ground (Padnell Park, Padnell Road, PO8 8EH).

Subject to funding, Havant Borough Council plan to improve the provision at this site, so that any refurbishment meets the needs of the local community, we want to hear your views to ensure that any new provision is suitable, fun, and long lasting. Your input will help us shape the specification and design of the new play areas.

Your thoughts and responses will be further developed by working in partnership with young people from a local secondary school, who will determine a final concept design that will be published to contractors for the works.

Phases

Phases overview

Cowplain Recreation Ground Engagement

Cowplain Recreation Ground Engagement

21 February 2024 - 20 March 2024

We want to hear from you on what you would like to be included in the improvements for Cowplain Recreation Ground.

Please use the following ideas section to tell us what you think, particularly about:

What equipment (such as swings, slides or climbing frames) would you like to see included in this play area?
What other provisions (such as seating, bins or landscaped greenery such as bushes, shrubs or grassed areas) should be considered for this refurbishment? What type of surface should the play area have (e.g. grass, wood chips, soft tarmac)?
What types of materials and colours would you like to see in this refurbishment? Would you like to see graphics on the flooring (e.g. hopscotch or other games) and if so, what should these include?
Why would these improvements be important to you?
Which other play areas do you visit and why?

If you would like to submit your ideas on this site, please use the green "Submit your idea" button at the top right corner of this page. Please submit as many ideas as you wish.

Please note that other participants on this site will be able to view your ideas and/or attachments once you submit them.

You can also comment on other posts, or agree / disagree with other comments. These will be listed at the bottom of this page under the "Ideas" heading.

37 ideas

Sian Riley2 years ago A fenced off play area for a safe play area for younger kids to be kept seperate from dogs.Remove send pit. My kids have found glass buried multiple times in the sand pit. Although they love digging I worry about them finding anything buried in there. More swings and updated park equipment. My daughter loves the little trampoline, maybe a few of those upgraded. Monkey bars and a bigger climbing frame/adventure climbing but for young and older kids. My son loves playing football so some goals and a football area would be amazing. More benches so we can make a proper trip and take a picnic or some snacks to spend a good time at the park.

Laura Citrine2 years ago I think you could take example from the play area at queen Elizabeth country park and also cherque farm, alver valley country park and use natural items such as large soft wooden beams to create enriching play in the form of an obstacle course. Climbing frames with monkey bars would be a welcome addition. Sadly I wouldn’t bother with a zip line as these get destroyed by teenagers. Swings end up the same way.

Jenny Warden2 years ago The play area needs updating with new equipment. Some equipment is broken or has been taken away because it was used incorrectly/vandalised. Most importantly I would like to see the play area fenced off because when I have visited the park with my two small children, dogs have run up to my children whilst in the play area. It shouldn't matter whether the dog "is friendly" the area should be dog free and fenced off like other parks. Also the dogs run over the sandpit and most likely use it as a toilet. Will be glad to see improvements.

Sophie Kynoch2 years ago We used to love the zip wire, the web bucket swing and the high rotation swing please can you bring them back. More for the toddlers, in an enclosed area with soft flooring, a structure in a sand pit like at Petersfield heath. A big wooden climbing structure like in Petersfield too.Some more benches dotted around and tables with benches for picnics. under the trees for shade in the summer.A slide and a seesaw More bins too.

Helen Goble2 years ago Utilise space better to provide facilities for all ages of children. Fence off the park as on multiple occasions have seen dogs urinating in the sand pit while owners are oblivious. Natural play structures and larger facilities so can be enjoyed by older children not just smaller children similar to QECP assault course, Hogmoor, Alver Valley and Easeborne. Sports facilities available for all eg skate park, pump track, all weather football/ball games pitch etc. It is such a huge space and could easily become a destination park if there were enough facilities for families of all ages, including toilets and more seating for picnics etc

John Green2 years ago

Samantha Walker 2 years ago It would be really good to see Padnell park have a make over. It doesn't feel like it was all that long ago that the current equipment was installed but it has not lasted well. I have 3 children, aged 3,10 and 13. It would be really nice for the park to have various aspects that appeal to each of them.We recently visited the newly refurbished recreation ground in Rowlands Castle and the equipment there is fab! plenty of slides, swings and climbing frames. A picnic area and a roundabout. A smaller area suitable for toddlers and larger equipment for older children. Something like this would be great, or similar to the park at Denmead which was refurbished before Padnell but has lasted and is still as good as when it was first done. Both are fenced off to prevent animals which is needed. It would also be great to see the old tennis courts at the bottom transformed into a 3G football pitch. Jubilee Park has a recently refurbished Tennis court so this is already covered in Cowplain area. My eldest is football mad and plays in the junior premier league. He struggles to find anywhere local with football goals up to have a kick around with friends or to practice shots - for this they regularly travel into Portsmouth and attend GOALS. If this is not an option then it would help to have football goals permanently up on the field.

Marie Wiseman2 years ago Please take into account older children when refurbishing this park. There is plenty of space for a zip wire as well as a larger trampoline . The climbing structure could be more challenging (taller, rope ladders) with a soft floor underneath as the area gets very muddy. If putting a sandpit, please put a fence around it so it does not become a dog toilet a couple of benches would be great as well as 4 or 5 bins as littering is a big issue there.. baby swings as well as larger swings are good. Thank you

Rachel Pepper2 years ago This park is in serious need of a revamp. The park next to a community centre which has a nursery with limited outside space and two schools and should be the hub of the community and buzzing daily. I think that the park could benefit from being extended significantly to cater for various age groups. The size of the field is enormous and could be used to increase its use for everyone in the community. Its important to keep the cricket fields and football pitches for community teams. Personally as a dog owner I enjoy that the area is enclosed as there is not many places I can take my dog and children at the same time. I know that this isn't the case for everyone. Perhaps a small area for babies/toddlers could be fenced off to cater for all. The park itself could take an example from places like QE country park, the Hogmoore enclosure, Alver valley, Denmead and Berewood with wooden structures, slides, swings, monkey bars, climbing areas, sand areas with pully systems, an obstacle course for all ages. My children absolutely love zip wires too. It could be a really great place for everyone. I also feel that the Waterlooville area is lacking a splash park. The only ones available in our area are in Portsmouth and they are always so busy. This would be very popular during the warmer months. There are lots of older children/young adults who congregate around the men's shed and basketball area which can be intimidating especially for younger children. I think it could be an idea to provide them with their own area maybe closer to the tennis courts. They could enjoy an area with a basketball ball hoop, football goal, skateboard ramp and sheltered seating to be used in all weathers. There doesn't seem to be many places for older children to meet with friends in the area. Another thing lacking from the park is a toilet. The community centre doesn't allow you to use their toilet. I believe there may have been toilets with outside access previously but they are locked and not in use. This could be incorporated to the splash park area as it would be a must. The field is also used by a lot of dog walkers. It would be nice to see maybe an area for a dog agility course. The car park could also do with being extended. The school traffic in the morning is very busy and I feel that there would be better safety for the children if you increased the amount of spaces. Obviously with a revamp of the park it could also increase the amount of visitors and therefore more spaces would be beneficial. The area could also benefit from some sheltered areas and seating maybe picnic benches. There is only one bench currently near the park.

Katie LP2 years ago

Padnell Junior School2 years ago Things the children would like to keep/repair the zip-line (possibly one for little kids and one for big kids) the big swing more built-in trampolines the digger in the sand pit Pupils' suggestions for new play equipment separate areas/equipment for different ages (for example, low monkey bars for little kids and higher monkey bars for older kids) different swings, such as normal swings, wheelchair swings, baby swings, rope swings, tyre swings. roundabout climbing frame with things like a slide, tunnel slide, fireman pole, balancing bars a rock-climbing wall a see-saw gymnastics bars for doing flips Pupils' suggestions for the general area more seats for the grown-ups a canopy/cover over the seating area to provide shade games, shapes and colours painted on the floor, like snakes and ladders, hopscotch, tracks/paths, colourful shapes bike or scooter racks the play area to be fenced off to keep dogs out when children are playing bins closer to the play area There was also a lot of interest and talk about a skateboard area/for scooters and bikes - ramps or a track or something similar.

Natalie Gofton2 years ago We live 3 minute walk from the park & have asked our 8 year old daughter what she would like in this new & improved park.Equipment: New built in trampolines New swings Monkey bars Climbing wall Zip wire Bike / scooters tracks Hopscotch / games on floor (Bright) wooden themed We use this area as a family & for dog walks also. fenced area for park more bins picnic benches Wildlife area / Bee friendly Our daughter was interested in doing a ‘litter pick up’ morning as a while back the litter was awful. She goes to Padnell junior school so wondered whether this would be something you would be interested in working together perhaps? For environmental reasons. thanks ☺️

Laura Fisher2 years ago The park needs to be fenced off to keep dogs out the park as not all children like dogs or feel safe. there needs to be more seating picnic benches etc and bins. the park needs to cater for all ages skate park keeps kids entertained maybe separate to the park. zip wires , log climbing wood frames, monkey bars , interactive bits for caters for all needs . Swings etc defo a splash park too for the summer as nearest one is cosham use the space. Proper pitch and basket court .

Sara B2 years ago Picnic areas would be lovely so you could travel up to the park and have somewhere to sit for lunch or snacks. We really miss the zip wire that used to be at padnell park. it would be great to have a mix of equipment for older and younger children, potentially with the younger children equipment fenced in to enable more free play, like it is at Catherington park. I would love an area of water play for in the summer although I appreciate this is both expensive to create and maintain and not necessarily the best for the environment. It would save us having to travel down to Hilsea or Southsea in the summer and could bring in visitors from Waterlooville given how close it is to major bus links.

Mark Beetlestone2 years ago There's a park in Midhurst which uses all the space it has, really well. There is a covered picnic area structure, loads of seating whether that's small benches or picnic benches, and the equipment is all fantastic quality. What I like most is that the equipment is spread out. The space feels bigger than it is because of this. I've been to lots and lots of parks throughout Hampshire with my family and the one in Midhurst is the best one in my opinion. We spent a whole afternoon there and wouldnt hesitate to travel again to do so!

Rachel Ayres 2 years ago

Jane Healey2 years ago 6 year old and I discussed. Swings, zip wire, monkey bars, staggered bars, balance beams, giant slide, climbing frame. I say trees to stop the slide getting too hot to use. 6 year old says lots of trees. Benches to watch children. Get rid of sand pit, it's the local animal toilet! Would like to be able to take my children there after school and weekends as we are very local to it. We never go there currently.

Jennifer Winter2 years ago The park needs new toddler swings, a climbing frame, ideally one for younger children and one for older children. A slide could make use of the natural change in levels, going from the higher ground to the lower level if the rocks were removed and changed into a grass slope (similar to that at Clanfield Peel park).The sandpit is good and the sit on chair used to be good but no use if the park isn’t fenced off!I think it’s important to include and appropriate equipment for younger toddlers and those of primary school age as it is located right near the school and could be a huge asset to the local area!

Laura Lander2 years ago This is definitely overdue! It would be wonderful to have a park and space similar to that of Denmead or the park in Horndean by the Millennium Hall. The sand is hugely popular with little ones but it does need fencing off. Getting rid of the rocks and putting a slope in its place is a great idea, as well as putting a slide there. Having areas to suit younger children and primary age children would be great so it’s inclusive for families. The zip wire was great fun too.

Zoe Bloom2 years ago It wasn’t that long ago that the current park was redeveloped, it hasn’t weathered well at all. The play equipment is aimed at a very young age, which is great, but the older children are using it due to nothing else being available. The zip line barely lasted which was really the best thing there. The grass area at the bottom isn’t kept very well and is a bit of a waste of space. Ideally a small all weather grass area would be installed, but the amount of trees surrounding would mean that ongoing maintenance would be required. The large stones in my mind are a bit of a hazard, one trip on them and you are losing some teeth.

Mary Reed2 years ago As Grandparent to children aged 3 and 6 we would use this park regularly. Remove most of the stone slope and replace with grassed roly poly slopes and mounds and incorporate a slide. Add more little trampolines (they love them!) but ensure the surface around is safe and free from muddy puddles. Add a twirly seat as at the new Springwood Park. Remove the sand pit and dangerous wooden edging with screws protruding. Add more seats for Parents and Grandparents to watch! Good climbing frames and slides and decent variety of swings for all ages essential.

Carolyn Butchers2 years ago

Hannah Marks2 years ago I think it would be great to have a climbing frame or castle area with a slide and a bridge in the unused grass area at the bottom. That older toddlers and primary school children can play onAnother slide would be great. New toddler swings. Making use of the different levels but a lot more child friendly like the one in the play area at Petersfield Heath. Some benches by the play area would be nice too.

Richard Ian Ostler2 years ago I welcome improvements to the play area as my great grandchild enjoys it, particularly the swings.I am writing as an older person who walks regularly on the footpaths. Most of the paths are in reasonable condition but it is important to be free from trip hazards. The area between the Men's Shed and the footpath to the Community Centre is low lying and has very large puddles, mud and dead leaves. Rainwater drains from the path behind Padnell Road houses onto the area identified. Also in heavy rain the water flows across the road into the bottom of my garden (48 Padnell Road) and into my garage. I have had at least an inch of rain water on my garage floor. This has been reported previously for example to David Least.

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