£230,000 investment in Haverhill due to make a splash for families this summer

A major investment of £230,000 by Haverhill Town Council and West Suffolk Council will result in a splashpad being built in the town this summer.

More than 120 local young people from schools in the town helped design the new facility which will be next to the existing play area on the Haverhill Recreation Ground, within sight of the kiosk, public toilets, and CCTV cameras – creating a joined up safe area for families managed by the town council.

As part of the arrangement between the two Councils, Haverhill Town Council will take on the management of the kiosk so that their staff can provide a proper oversight of the splashpad when it is open. Having staff on site will also provide a point of contact for visitors to one of the town’s busiest public parks and ensure issues on site can be dealt with quickly.

In December 2020 Haverhill Town Council agreed to fund the building of a new Splashpad on Haverhill Recreation ground. Following a design and build tendering exercise earlier this year Ustigate Waterplay were appointed the task of creating the new facility.

This is part of Haverhill Town Council and West Suffolk Council’s aim to listen to local residents needs and provide facilities for families to keep fit and healthy.

Ustigate were the first to introduce a Splashpad concept to the UK and have a proven track record of providing fun and exciting splash parks throughout the country.

Haverhill Town and district councillor Tony Brown has championed this facility and been the driving force to get it delivered.

He welcomed the news that construction was about to start saying: “This is exactly the sort of thing that people have been asking for, something a bit different, a bit special to add to summer fun and encourage families from within and around Haverhill to use our fantastic recreation ground.”

John Griffiths, the leader of West Suffolk Council, said: “I am delighted that the plans to build a splashpad on the recreation ground are coming to fruition. Judging by their popularity elsewhere I am sure that the new facility will be popular and it’s just what young families need following many months of restrictions. I would like to thank Haverhill Town Council for leading on this exciting project and I cannot wait to see it open this summer.”

Works on site are scheduled to start in June and Ustigate have undertaken to have completed the installation in late July so that the facility is open for most of the school summer holiday period.

Haverhill Town Council will be providing £180,000 and West Suffolk Council who owns the recreation ground have contributed £50,000 from local developer contributions.