A new and exciting play area will this weekend be crowned off with the installation of the final and main feature. A very large specially made new mosaic, which has been created by prisoners from HMP Woodhill in Milton Keynes, will be laid into place at Desborough’s new Rushton Road play area. The mosaic which is the first one of its kind anywhere in the county to be made for a play area by serving prisoners echoes the children’s game of Snakes and Ladders, though they have been replaced with Dinosaurs and Dragons.
The play area has been created by Kettering Borough Council. Valerie Hitchman, Head of Community Services said that “we have tried to develop a play area with a real Flintstones’ feel to it and the spectacular mosaic created by Woodhill really is the icing on the cake. We really think that local children are going to have a great time playing on it”.
A spokesman from the prison said that “we have been developing some high quality learning opportunities for prisoners, with a focus on landscaping to develop new skills. The inmates who have been working on this piece have demonstrated incredible enthusiasm and have been all but been unstoppable in their determination to see it through”. He added that “some have told us that they have never felt valued, but for the first time they have been able to do something really positive in creating this for children”.
It is expected that the new play are will be fully open next week.
For further information please contact Pia Bellamy on 01536 410333.
Notes to the Editor
The new play area which is located at the junction of Dunkirk Avenue and Rushton Road has been created through a £49,000 grant as part of the National Playbuilder. The funding is supplied through Northamptonshire County Council. It has been developed through consultation with Desborough Town Council and the final design was agreed by children from Havelock Junior School.