A new play attraction with two huge timber towers, each standing over ten metres tall, is due to be installed in Stockton Waterfront urban park.
The towers form part of a large play area with a wide range of equipment and features, all influenced by the previous industrial heritage of the site, which will sit in the upper park.
It is one of three play spaces in the new urban park, along with ‘play-on-the-way’ features and an exhilarating six-metre slide from the amphitheatre to the riverside that will take children and families on a journey of discovery.
In the coming weeks, residents will see marked changes on the site through the arrival of the timber towers and construction of the playpark and amphitheatre, led by Esh Construction’s civil engineering division.
Stephen McClean, Construction Manager at Esh Construction, said: “As work progresses on the upper park, it’s exciting to see the timber towers beginning to take shape. These unique structures are more than just a visual centrepiece – they’ve been carefully designed to offer inclusive, engaging play experiences for children of all ages and abilities. We’re proud to be part of a project that will bring lasting value to the community.”
Standing at ten metres, the towers will boast walkways with wheelchair accessible elements, a net bridge, three slides and a range of sensory play features. Children will also be able to enjoy panoramic views of the River Tees from the viewing platform.
The impressive play areas form part of Council plans for Stockton Waterfront, creating an iconic, new public space for residents and visitors, with a land bridge structure that will reconnect the High Street to the river. The Council has worked with members of the Stockton Parent Carers Forum to ensure that the park features meet the needs of as many families as possible. The final design has been shaped to incorporate their advice and feedback.
Councillor Richard Eglington, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Housing at Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, said: “We know how popular our play areas are with families and that’s why we’ve ensured Stockton Waterfront will be a unique space like no other in the region for residents and visitors to spend quality time outdoors.
“The park’s feature elements, two huge play towers, will take children to new heights and we are looking forward to welcoming families when it opens.
“The play areas will complement the numerous exciting additions in the urban park, which is set to transform the town centre. It’s part of our commitment to make the Borough a great place to live work and visit, providing an environment where all generations can thrive.”
The focal point of the park will be split into three distinct and interactive areas, covering a toddler totter trail, tower area and water course and an exciting swing area. The timber towers will combine adventure, sand and waterplay for children of all ages and abilities, with the smaller ‘totter trail’ obstacle course for youngsters as well as a water play extension and a swing structure allowing children to play with friends.
The use of the different levels of the park also allows the towers to be accessed by those in wheelchairs. This allows an in-round trampoline to feature and one of the slides is also suitable for both carers and children to use.
A variety of swings, including a triple swing structure with various seat types and heights for different ages and abilities, also featured in the park. Play on the way features will link the town centre to the river through play and discovery, making the most of the six-metre level change from High Street to riverside. This includes two large, open stainless steels slide and a tightrope walk and chained adventure path to complement the central stage area and amphitheatre.
Play for older children is focused on the waterfront area, with a variety of car tyre and twin swings that have been chosen to reflect the cranes that lined the commercial wharf in Stockton. There’ll also be climbing boulders, features for skateboards and bikes, as well as three hammock seats, while a surface mounted roundabout is included which is also suitable for wheelchair users.
Designed by Timberplay in collaboration with Ryder Architecture, installation of these state-of-the-art features will begin on Tuesday, 12th August, as Esh continues work to deliver the £23 million transformational park on behalf of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council.
Mark Grimshaw, Associate Director at Timberplay, said: “We’re incredibly excited to be part of the Stockton Waterfront project – ambitious regeneration that puts children and play at the heart of place-making. Collectively we have worked through the design process, resulting in a play offer that not only creates a significant focal point for the park, but will deliver world class levels of quality, play value, inclusivity and maintainability.
“Seeing the bespoke play towers rise up on site will be a tremendous moment for all involved, and we can’t wait to see the community enjoying this transformative green space for decades to come.”
Nichola Speight, Associate Landscape Architect at Ryder Architecture, said: “We’re delighted to see the installation of the play towers at Stockton Waterfront. It’s an exciting milestone for all those involved in the design process, including community groups and industry experts, who’ve worked closely to ensure the space improves the lives of local families for generations to come.
“The zones across the park offer a variety of imaginative, inclusive, safe, and sensory play experiences for all ages and abilities – all designed to create an accessible, heritage-rich environment.”
As work progresses on the upper park, it’s exciting to see the timber towers beginning to take shape. These unique structures are more than just a visual centrepiece – they’ve been carefully designed to offer inclusive, engaging play experiences for children of all ages and abilities. We’re proud to be part of a project that will bring lasting value to the community.”
