New inclusive play equipment open at Hylton Castle

Sunderland City Council worked in partnership with Streetscape Products & Services Ltd to install the swing and roundabout that can be used by wheelchair users.

The AbilitySwing is an enclosed wheelchair swing designed specifically with people with limited mobility in mind.

The enclosure is exclusively opened by an independent access key which guarantees no unauthorised use, therefore preventing entry to all except wheelchair users.

The new wheelchair-accessible roundabout is also suitable for range of age groups, including young children of all abilities who can sit and enjoy the ride accompanied by an adult, while older or more confident children can test their balance when the roundabout is at full speed to enhance both balance and spatial awareness skills.

The equipment was funded by £16,975 from the North Area Committee and matched with a £20,020 contribution from Sunderland City Council.

It forms part of the councils over £3 million investment in parks and open spaces across Sunderland.

Councillor Claire Rowntree, Deputy Leader of Sunderland City Council, said: "I am delighted to see the official handover of this game-changing piece of play equipment. We want to see all children enjoy this park and not be limited by their mobility. Now more and more families will be able to enjoy this park."

Councillor Denny Wilson, Chair of the North Area Committee, said: "It's fantastic to see work complete to install these new inclusive pieces of play equipment, which will make Hylton Castle play park a more fun and accessible place for children of all ages and abilities.

"All our young people deserve the best and we're all very determined on this council to help them achieve and experience the best."

One of the children who has already been enjoying the new equipment is nine-year-old Will Calvert, who has Duchenne muscular dystrophy and uses a wheelchair. His aunt, Angela Turnbull, is delighted to see more inclusive equipment in play areas.

She said: "I thought this would bring inclusion to children with less mobility than others, but the reaction of Will the first time he went on the swing was beyond belief, to hear a child say they had not been on a swing for years and how amazing it was broke my heart. 

"I do hope Sunderland City Council know what an amazing thing they have done and other councils follow suit."

The North Area Committee has also bought Beach Wheelchairs to enable accessibility on Roker Beach.

More play areas across the city have been upgraded over the last year.

There are a total of 95 playparks in Sunderland with 16 inclusive springies, eight inclusive roundabouts, and four accessible swings at various play areas across the city, with more in the pipeline. This is in addition to the existing basket swings, spinning disks and dish roundabouts in the majority of Sunderland's play and urban games facilities, which are already inclusive and are designed to be used by children of all ages and abilities.