The recent refurbishment to the play equipment and sporting facilities at Valence Park in Dagenham is set to be completed this week, with the recreation area set to open at a launch event on Tuesday 26 March.
The project was launched following a successful crowdfunding campaign by local resident Lisa Adams, who with help from charity Community Resources, the Urban Sports Group, London Sport, Barking and Dagenham Council and funding from the public raised £269,274 for the development.
The improvement works to Valence Park have seen the old play area equipment removed and replaced with brand new multi-play climbing units, swings, a roundabout, new seating, rubber safety surfacing, and a state-of-the-art outdoor gym area. Floodlighting for the basketball court has also been installed and funded by Sport England.
The opening ceremony will be taking place from 3 pm at Valence Park, where a range of activities will be on offer to residents.
Play Innovation who have installed the new basketball court will be providing families and children with an induction about how to play ‘wall ball’ from 3 pm to 3.30pm, with face painting also taking place at the same time.
The formal launch will begin at 3.30pm, where Councillor Darren Rodwell, Leader of Barking and Dagenham Council, will be speaking alongside Matt Roebuck from London Sport and Lisa Adams who helped put together the plans to improve Valence Park and raised funds for over two years.
Following this, there will be a five-minute community workout for those in attendance, as well as a gym induction and a mini basketball tournament involving players from British Basketball League side the London Lions.
Councillor Saima Ashraf, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Community Leadership and Engagement, is pleased to see that the revamped recreation area will be open to the public shortly:
“The new play area and sporting facilities at Valence Park look absolutely fantastic and I am delighted that residents will be able to start using them from later this month,” she said.
“If people would like to see the new equipment in person then I would encourage them to attend the launch event on 26 March, where they will be able to enjoy a number of fun activities for the whole family.”
