NORTH Tawton Memorial Park has a new lease of life following the installation of brand new play equipment.

The official re-opening of the park took place following the completion of the first phase of the park redevelopment. Supporting the event on the day were Okehampton Community Recreation Association (OCRA), North Tawton Youth Club, North Tawton Women's Institute, and Andrew Shaw with a number of musicians from the Exeter area.

Among the new equipment is an assault course, a fully fenced area for toddlers and their parents, a half-pipe for skateboarders, and an eight to 15 year-old play area. Nigel Davies and Mark Tooth, committee members of the North Tawton Park Regeneration Project oversaw the official opening.

Nigel said he was happy with the first phase of the park's redevelopment.

He said: 'Everything has gone very well, including the opening day. The weather could have been better, but everyone turned up and we had a full park. The whole thing started many years ago, with youngsters in the town asking for such facilities, through the youth club.

'Originally they asked for a proper skate park, but their requests got the wheels in motion for the park's redevelopment.

'We're happy to have got the park development to this point, as it has taken many years to get here. It's thanks to the funding from the Big Lottery Fund that we've been able to really press forward.

'What's been really lovely is that I've spoken to parents and they've said lots more children are now using the park. One mother told me how when she took her children to the park, she ran into another mother she hadn't seen in months, so it also adds a social side for parents too.'

Monies for the facility came from a grant of £100,000 from the Community Spaces initiative, which is managed by Groundwork UK and financed by the Big Lottery Fund.

Community Spaces is a £57.5 million open grants programme that helps community groups create or improve green and open spaces so that the quality of life in neighbourhoods across England is enhanced. Other funding and assistance was provided by West Devon Borough Council and North Tawton Town Council. The main equipment was installed by Playline Design Ltd, with the pathways laid by South West Highways Ltd.

Nigel said the development project isn't yet completed: 'This is the end of the first phase of the redevelopment, but we wanted to get the equipment opened so children could use it throughout the summer.

'We have some landscaping to do in the park. We always planned to keep the football field, so we intend to level the playing surface later in the year.'