Play Park to be completed after Chichester District Council grant
A date is awaited for the final bits of kit to be installed at Graffham’s Play Park after Chichester District Council made a grant of almost £16,000 to the scheme – taking its fund-raising to its target. The facility will be closed for around a week to enabe the work to be completed.
Published: 2 September 2025
The final installations have been scheduled for after schools return from holidays, to avoid as much as possible disappointing its young users. It is expected to be carried out in late September or October.
The final items of equipment to be added include a ‘spinning cup’ and playhouse for toddlers, a seesaw and a big multi-play ‘scrambler’. They will be built in natural materials and fitted by Playsafe, from nearby Elsted, like the swings, zipwire, tunnel, slide, roundabout and climbing frame installed in the Play Park’s first phase late last year. That was opened just in time for the Christmas holidays by our MP Andrew Griffith, after an initial £65,000 was raised in cash and kind. Graffham Parish Council set the ball rolling with £20,000 from its Community Investment Levy fund. Villagers and friends collectively pledged £15,000, topped up by £3,000 of Gift Aid, with further contributions from Graffham Tennis Club and Graffham Festival 2024. Ensuring the project came to life was a ‘donation in kind’ from Selham House’s Glen and Asta Manchester, with their building team carrying out all the ground works and supplying the woodchip, new fencing and gates. Just ahead of the re-opening, the Lottery Fund kicked off phase 2 of fund-raising with a £16,000 gift.
Rachel Gerrett, who has been leading the team behind the project, said: “These final elements will allow children of different ages and abilities to play at the same time, providing several different types of physical challenge.”
Rec Chairman John Bracey added: “It is a real credit to the village that this once-in-a-generation project has been completed entirely through charitable and public grants, private donations and Gift Aid – without having to dip into the parish council precept for one penny – thanks to all the generous people concerned.”