Plans submitted for Seaburn play park

Detailed plans for an outdoor children's play park designed with the support of Seaburn schoolchildren have been submitted. 

Stunning visuals for a play park near to the the former Pirate Play Park site have been shared for the first time, depicting a facility with play mounds, sand pits and planted areas, as well as traditional play features such as swings, slides and roundabouts, tall towers, a climbing wall, bridges and aerial walkways.

The plans, which - if approved - will see the new park completed by spring 2024, will deliver an attractive new seaside amenity that will complement the range of new attractions that have flooded into the area over the past few years. 

The park, located just off Dykelands Road and Lowry Road, will be a real visitor attraction and fits with the council's ambition to 'make the city's play parks more inclusive' as it includes bespoke play equipment for those with accessibility challenges, ensuring as many families as possible can enjoy the facilities.

Cllr Kevin Johnston, portfolio holder for dynamic city at Sunderland City Council, said: "It's brilliant to see these plans take a step forward with a planning application submitted this week. 

"Our seafront is a place for everyone, and families in particular flock here to enjoy its natural beauty.  Adding to that with facilities that will enhance visitors' experience is fantastic, and we're pleased to be leading this brilliant development which we know will be warmly welcomed."

Students at Seaburn Dene Primary School worked with the council to come up with ideas that would create a stand-out play area for families to enjoy.  Rainbow swings and a lighthouse slides were just some of the ideas that students drew up to help shape the plans.

"We hope to open this new addition in the first half of next year, in time for the summer months when we know people flock to the seaside," added Cllr Johnston.

Mr John Howe, head teacher at Seaburn Dene Primary School, said: "The children were really engaged with the chance to get involved in a community project like this and used their creativity and imagination to really "dream big" about their designs.

"We're delighted to see this come to fruition and given how close we are to the site, I'm sure our children will be among the first children down there when it finally opens."

Cllr Johnston added: "We're a council that listens to residents and responds to their needs, and this is a brilliant example of what we can do when we work together with communities to create assets and amentities that are for them."

Visuals for Seaburn play park (PDF, 4 MB)