Bristol City Council to make transformative £1.1million investment in 5 Bristol parks and play areas
Bristol City Council has announced it will be investing £1.1 million in a series of projects to improve parks and children’s play areas across Bristol.
The funding is drawn from the Strategic Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), and will support areas experiencing significant growth and enhance facilities for children and young people.
Councillor Stephen Williams, Chair of the Public Health and Communities Committee, said: “Our parks and green spaces are amongst the crown jewels of our city.
“These spaces are vitally important to our city’s physical, mental and emotional wellbeing, and this investment recognises the value in which we hold them.
“Our Parks and Green Spaces strategy sets out the approach we are taking to protecting and nurturing these spaces for all to enjoy.
"We won’t be stopping here either, with a list of prospective projects ripe for investment we will be working closely across the council and with partners to secure the funds needed so that all areas of our city continue to reap the benefits of our glorious green and open spaces.”
The parks and play areas benefiting from the investment include:
- Bannerman Road Park, Lawrence Hill (£200,000): renewal of one of the city’s oldest play areas, located near the Frome Gateway growth area, to replace equipment that is being removed on safety grounds.
- St George Park, St George West (£680,000): a major upgrade to transform provision for children and young people, including the renewal of the wheels park – one of only five in the city – and improvements to the play area.
- Purdown Open Space, Lockleaze (£50,000): additional funding to support a new play facility in an area experiencing significant growth, ensuring local children have access to high-quality play within a 10-minute walk from home.
- Argyle Road Playing Fields (Barton Fields), Hillfields (£50,000): enhancements to an existing project to add more play equipment and meet community aspirations near major housing developments.
- Greville Smyth Park and other sites (£120,000): upgrades to concession pitches with water and power supplies and improvements to a key entrance at Greville Smyth Park, creating opportunities for events and income generation to reinvest in parks.
The projects are set to be delivered between 2026 and 2028, with further investment planned in future years to improve accessibility for Disable visitors.