Causeway Crescent Park in Linthwaite has been re-developed in response to conversations with local people, organised by Pride in Linthwaite.
‘Listen to Linthwaite’ has been a way for people to talk about their local area – to share what they think of Linthwaite now and to say what they’d like to see in the future. Pride in Linthwaite are working with local councillors and Kirklees Council officers to develop new projects in the area, based on what local people have said is important to them.
One of these local priorities was improving Causeway Crescent Park. Kirklees Council have completed a programme of repairs and upgrades, including changes recommended by local children.
The park has now re-opened, much to the delight of everyone. Children and families who took part in the conversations, along with local councillors and Kirklees Council’s Playable Spaces team, got together to celebrate the re-opening of the park.
People who took part in ‘Listen to Linthwaite’ said the park had been in much need of improvement, to meet the needs of local young people today. Pride in Linthwaite were able to use this evidence to work with the Playable Spaces team, to develop a plan of renovation.
Working alongside each other, the group and council staff had conversations with local school children, to find out exactly what it was they would like to have in the park. Local councillors were involved throughout the process and, understanding what was needed, were able to invest some funds from their ward budgets to help finance the improvements.
The ‘Listen to Linthwaite’ activities used a tool called the Place Standard, which is a way of encouraging conversations about your local place. Here’s what Liz from Pride in Linthwaite told us about working alongside the council, using this approach:
“We were keen from the start to get involved and use the Place Standard engagement tool. We could see how it could support our community as a whole, that what we learned from it would be representative of our local community. Council officers and local councillors supported us to use it, but we were in charge and our community were empowered by it. It’s a very different approach from what we’re used to. It’s nice to have affirmed that this work was genuinely wanted by the community and the Playable Spaces team not only listened to, but delivered on what the community said it needed.” – Liz Quinn, Pride in Linthwaite
Here’s what people in Linthwaite think of the new play area:
“They have expanded the area out, the swings used to be creaky but now they are much better. The roundabout used to have graffiti on it but doesn’t anymore” – Olivia, Linthwaite Clough Student
“It looks good and its fun! There’s a good variety of new things” – Merryn, Linthwaite Clough Student
“Its all very child friendly. The swings are low down which makes them easier to get on and the monkey bars are low enough too” – Emily, Linthwaite Clough Student
“The children really felt listened to with this park development and that’s been really appreciated, as this is an important resource for the children. You can see the joy in their faces!” – Nikki Barker, Head at Linthwaite Clough
How good is our place? 