Hamworthy Park play area gets £190,000 accessible refurbishment
14 August 2026 · By Boroughly editorial — AI-assisted, human-reviewed.
A long-awaited upgrade to the play area in Hamworthy Park is set to begin within the coming weeks, with BCP Council committing £190,000 to a redesign that puts accessibility at its centre.
The project has been shaped through collaboration between the council's green spaces team, disability charity Diverse Abilities, and local children, young people and families — meaning the design reflects what the community actually asked for, rather than an off-the-shelf solution.
The new layout is divided into four zones, covering water play, a dedicated sensory area, swings, and slides. The centrepiece is a wheelchair-ramped playboat — a nod to Hamworthy's maritime heritage — fitted with sensory equipment on the deck and both double and triple slides. Wheelchair-accessible equipment is included throughout, alongside specialist sensory and inclusive play features.
For families with children who have additional needs, that kind of genuinely inclusive design is more than a cosmetic touch — it means the park becomes somewhere everyone can play together, rather than a space that works for most but not all.
No precise start date has been confirmed, but the council describes works as beginning "in the coming weeks." Full details and the published designs are available on the BCP Council news page.