Gwella marks 300th play area upgrade in Flintshire
Gwella’s Play Design and Inspection team has completed its 300th children’s play area improvement scheme, marking 15 years of investment in outdoor play across Flintshire.
The match-funding programme began in 2010 and allows Flintshire County Council and local Town and Community Councils to jointly fund improvements. Councils contribute equally to new equipment, surfacing and upgrades that support safer and more accessible play spaces.
The scheme launched with seven completed projects in its first year.
All 34 Town and Community Councils now take part, and more than £4.5 million has been invested across 312 upgrade schemes.
The current financial year is expected to deliver 28 improvements, the highest annual total since the programme started.
Richard Roberts, who has overseen the programme since 2010, said: “The match-funding programme for play areas continues to go from strength to strength. The 28 Town & Community Councils which have engaged during 2025/26 is the best ever and highlights the joint commitment that both Flintshire County Council and the local Town and Community Councils have to maintaining free to access, outdoor play spaces for children and young people across the county.”
Penyffordd Community Council has made regular use of the scheme.
Sarah Hughes, Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer, said: “The match-funding scheme has been instrumental in enabling continued improvements and essential upgrades to a wide range of our community play areas. It has allowed us to deliver larger-scale, high-impact projects – such as the installation of skate ramps, pump tracks, and other specialist equipment – that would not have been achievable through local council resources alone. The scheme has also ensured that our facilities remain modern, inclusive, and safe, supporting the health and wellbeing of children and families across the village.
“The partnership approach at the heart of the scheme encourages strong working relationships between County and Community Councils. This collaboration not only maximises financial resources but ensures that projects are well-planned, community-driven, and strategically aligned with local needs.
“Furthermore, the continuity of the scheme has provided long-term certainty for planning, allowing us to prioritise multi-year improvements and maintain a consistent standard across all our play areas. It has helped foster community pride, encourage outdoor activity, and support the development of vibrant, accessible spaces that benefit all age groups.”
Gwella currently maintains and inspects more than 200 play facilities across the county.
These include children’s play areas, multi-use games areas, ball-play zones, skate parks and pump tracks. Further improvement schemes for 2025 to 2026 are now in development.
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