Bournemouth’s play areas are being repaired, refurbished and redesigned through BCP Council’s £4.6 million first phase of its Plan for Play. Projects include major improvements at Kings Park and Muscliff Park, alongside new equipment and repairs at sites across Boscombe, Moordown and other neighbourhoods. The programme is placing greater emphasis on accessible equipment, imaginative play and ideas contributed by local children and families.
22nd September 2026
Play areas across Bournemouth are being repaired, redesigned and - in some cases - completely replaced as part of BCP Council’s long-term Plan for Play. The first phase has an updated budget of £4.6 million and runs until 2027, with work ranging from urgent repairs and new equipment to major playground refurbishments designed around the needs of local families.
BCP Council manages 171 play spaces across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, containing more than 1,100 individual pieces of equipment.
Much of this equipment was inherited from the councils that previously managed the three towns and is now ageing. Without investment, the council says more equipment could eventually need to be removed and some play areas could face closure.
The Plan for Play was introduced to create a clearer system for deciding which sites need immediate repairs, which require substantial investment and where the existing layout may no longer provide the best use of the space.
Several Bournemouth play areas are included in the first phase of work.
A major redevelopment is taking place at the play area beside Ashley Road in Kings Park. Its design was influenced by feedback from local children and families, with new features intended to offer a better mixture of climbing, balancing, swinging and imaginative play.
Muscliff Park is also scheduled for refurbishment, while work and repairs have been progressing at sites including Churchill Gardens in Boscombe, Moordown Recreation Ground and Seafield Gardens.
New equipment has already appeared at some locations. This includes new swings at Churchill Gardens and additional play equipment at Moordown Recreation Ground and Seafield Gardens.
A new play area has also been proposed at Landford Way in Bournemouth, although the project remains subject to the outcome of local consultation and further assessment.
The programme is not simply replacing old swings and slides with newer versions.
BCP Council’s stated vision is to provide safe, accessible and inclusive spaces where people of different ages and abilities can be active and enjoy outdoor play. New designs are therefore expected to consider sensory play, accessible equipment and different levels of physical challenge.
The approach also recognises that play can extend beyond a traditional fenced playground. The strategy covers skateparks, BMX tracks, natural play features, play trails and multi-use games areas.
This could lead to a broader mix of outdoor spaces for children and teenagers rather than every site following the same standard playground layout.
Community consultation is playing an important part in the process.
More than 600 completed surveys were received during the 2025 consultation. Children also took part at in-person events, casting 241 votes for their preferred play activities and submitting drawings and ideas.
That feedback has already changed several initial recommendations. Some play spaces previously considered for closure or relocation are now being retained, repaired or refurbished, while additional funding has been secured for certain projects.
For families, this means the changes are being shaped partly by how local people actually use each space - not solely by the age of its equipment.
Not every Bournemouth play area will receive a complete rebuild during the first phase.
Each site has been placed into one of five categories: defect repair, refurbishment, replacement, repurposing or new site. The most urgent projects are being prioritised between 2025 and 2027, while sites requiring major work in later phases will depend on further funding.
Some smaller or poorly used spaces may be repurposed, particularly where a better-equipped playground is available within walking distance. Boscombe’s Edwardian Gardens is among the sites identified for repurposing, while Strouden Park and The Rookery are expected to receive playable landscape features instead of remaining conventional equipped playgrounds.
Where possible, nearby refurbishment work is expected to be completed before existing equipment is removed.
Phase one now has an updated budget of £4.6 million. Funding comes from several sources, including the Community Infrastructure Levy paid by developers, other developer contributions, ring-fenced reserves and support from external partners.
The council has made clear that later phases are not yet fully funded. The order and extent of future work will therefore depend on available budgets, community support and successful applications for additional funding.
The result will not be one identical design repeated across the town. Some neighbourhoods will receive completely renewed playgrounds, while others will see equipment repaired, individual features replaced or spaces adapted for a different style of outdoor play.
What connects the projects is a greater focus on accessibility, local input and creating spaces that can remain useful for years to come.
For Bournemouth families, the improvements should mean safer equipment and more interesting opportunities to climb, balance, explore and play - although the transformation will happen gradually rather than all at once.
The latest schedules and individual concept designs can be found on the BCP Council Plan for Play project page.
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