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Library Gardens
Leigh Library Gardens will benefit from the investment.
SOUTHEND council is set to invest £1 million in the City’s playgrounds.
Funds from the community infrastructure levy (CIL), which is made up of cash from developers, will be used to upgrade facilities across the city.
Big central parks such as Chalkwell Park and Priory Park are set to benefit the most, with small playgrounds like Milton Gardens playground in Westcliff, and Oakwood Park and Leigh Library Gardens in Leigh will also see improvements.
Priory Park will get £200,000 for a full redesign, with a replacement of most of the equipment, which is dated and in poor condition.
Bournes Green Park in Southend also has £200,000 earmarked for a full revamp, while Belfairs Park playground in Leigh will see £50,000 worth of improvements and a possible move nearer to the Woodland Centre.
Other proposals include a new footpath and play area to Leigh Library Gardens, and the installation of an aeration system to combat water quality issues in Southchurch Park lake.
A report to Southend’s cabinet said: “Southend will have a network of accessible, high-quality and highly valued parks and open spaces to be proud of, promoting sustainability, health, and well-being, supporting biodiversity and extensively contributing to the economic, social and environmental aspirations of the city.
“As part of this process, we have been auditing and assessing many of our parks, play areas and open spaces to enable us to prioritise what works are required as and when funding becomes available.”