York Labour councillors Bob Webb and Claire Douglas have secured a completely new play area at Glen Gardens in Heworth, after years of the site being overlooked for parks funding.
The previous equipment dated from before City of York Council was formed in 1996, making it at least 30 years old. Ward councillors said a full overhaul could not wait any longer and pressed for developer contributions to pay for the replacement.
The new play area opened on Monday 22 September 2026. Heworth ward councillor Bob Webb said the focus had been on making the case for investment that should go into liveable neighbourhoods and quality green space.
Webb: 'Exactly what these contributions should be used for'
"It isn't obvious why Glen Gardens play area has been overlooked for funding in the past but as its current ward councillors, our focus has been on what we needed to do to ensure it happens now.
"This has involved a lot of work by ward councillors in making the argument that developer contributions be used to pay for it. This is exactly what these contributions should be used for - making neighbourhoods more liveable by creating quality green spaces."
Although the Labour administration created a £750,000 Parks Investment Fund last year, with around 20 schemes set to improve parks and play areas across the city, plans for Glen Gardens were already in place before that fund was set up.
Douglas: 'I'm delighted with what we've been able to deliver'
Fellow Heworth ward councillor Claire Douglas, who also leads York's Labour group, said the opening showed what persistence on funding can deliver for local children.
"The new play area looks amazing and I'm delighted with what we've been able to deliver at Glen Gardens for local children.
"When we started discussing this proposal we were told the funding didn't exist. But by working to establish what was possible, we worked out a way to secure that funding and get it done.
"Learning from the challenges here led us to create the Parks Investment Fund, so other parks and play areas in need of new play equipment and other renewal didn't have years to wait. This is great news for Clifton, Hull Road and Westfield wards and many others benefiting in 2026-27."
