The exciting new sport, play and leisure facilities at Oxhey Activity Park are now open, thanks to Watford Borough Council’s ongoing commitment to improve and develop parks and green spaces for the health and wellbeing of all.
A state of the art skate park, a new café, a bike trail, an adventure playground and new habitats aimed at improving biodiversity are just some of the features of the new space designed for children and adults to enjoy.
Elected Mayor of Watford, Peter Taylor said: “One of the key parts of my manifesto was to improve Watford’s parks and green spaces and get more people out and about enjoying these facilities. Since the outbreak of Covid-19 places like this have never been more important, people need places where they can connect with nature, take exercise and also have fun.
“There is strong evidence that open green spaces have a huge impact on people’s health and well-being. I’m delighted these fantastic, accessible facilities are now open and hope people of all ages enjoy them.”
Cllr Williams, Portfolio Holder for Parks said: “The skate park is cutting edge and been designed for use by both younger off-road cyclists and those wanting to do daredevil aerial displays. We have a new adventure play area for younger children along with a café, table tennis facilities and toilets which you’ve never had in Oxhey Park before.”
Key features of the activity park include:
Adventure playground: little ones can explore play trails, swing on the jungle swing like a modern-day Tarzan or zoom down the slides. Most of the equipment is ideal for children with disabilities.
State of the art skatepark: Good mix of street obstacles, a wide mini ramp a bike pump track and smooth skate run, so people of all ages and abilities can work on their wheel skills. A jump box section for the younger bike and scooter enthusiasts will enable them to try out jumps and aerial tricks too.
Plus, a separate learners’ skate park next to the café will give absolute beginners the perfect spot to start honing their skills before they progress to other parts of the park.
Bike trail: Keen and amateur cyclists are also able to hop on their bikes and cycle around the new parkland. It comes complete with features made from natural materials to test balance and skills.
Tasty Bean café: park-users can relax with a drink and snack at the park. The facility also has accessible toilets called ‘Changing Places’ which are designed so that they provide sufficient space and equipment for people who are not able to use the toilet independently.
Outdoor table tennis tables: available around the play area – free of charge, just bring along some bats and a ball. To complete the scene, seating and picnicking spots are sprinkled throughout the play space.
Beryl bike-share bay – A bay has been installed beside the café to encourage visitors to cycle to the park and commuters to use the bikes to get to other destinations around the town. The hugely popular scheme now has 40 bays across Watford and more than 50,000 rides have taken place on the bikes since its launch in March.
New planting: includes a wildflower meadow and more trees aimed at encouraging new habitats for birds, bats, insects and other wild animals. As well as making the park even more beautiful, these initiatives support biodiversity, and improve the soil, climate and the environment.
For more information on the park, you can find out more at oxheyactivitypark.co.uk.
