Prospect Park play centre transformation nears completion

We are delighted to announce our exciting new destination for activities, entertainment and learning for families and children from across Reading and beyond, is nearing completion.

We are investing over £500k in a new play hub and activity centre in part of the pavilion building at Prospect Park.

View more photos of the site here:  

As part of our ambition to improve health and drive up participation in outdoor and active play, the fantastic new facilities coming soon will include:

• accessible outdoor family adventure 9-hole mini-golf featuring Reading landmarks;
• an indoor ‘Sky Tykes’ low ropes course for younger children age 7 and under;
• a café facility with indoor and outdoor seating;
• new toilet facilities (including an accessible Changing Places facility);
• multi-function room for parties, meetings and teaching, including those with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) or excluded from mainstream education;
• an outdoor education area that will also support Reading Play educational outreach work which includes using play as a tool to improve particularly vulnerable young people’s social skills and wellbeing.

The activity centre will have a phased opening over the next few months, with the finishing touches currently being made to the mini-golf, with a view to this activity opening in late April.

The pavilion is the home of the Council’s highly regarded and popular Play Service, and the new centre would also provide an outdoor enclosed education zone to support the team’s educational outreach programmes, including a climbing wall and team building activities, such as den building, archery, an outdoor classroom and much more.

The new activity centre is just one aspect of the enhancement and investment being made within Prospect Park. The playground has been prioritised for improvements, particularly free accessible equipment for children of all abilities. Designs for the new play area are currently out for public consultation and work is anticipated to start in the summer. To find out more about the Play project visit www.reading.gov.uk/PlayTransformation