New play area opens at Culdrose family centre

The park was built at the centre with money allocated from a naval fund set aside to refurbish 15 play parks across the Royal Navy estate, and enthusiasm for the park was so great that the Culdrose HIVE devised a competition to give the new facility a name.

Mackenzie Crawshaw-Hall’s entry, “Culdrose Helipark” was chosen and his reward was to be guest of honour alongside the commanding officer of RNAS Culdrose, Captain Mark Garratt at the ceremonial cutting of the ribbon.

Gemma Railton, community development worker for RNAS Culdrose, said: “The old play equipment was over ten years old and was really starting to show its age and looked very tired: not very appealing to the kids.

“Once we secured funding we upgraded the play area and added a basketball court along with somewhere for them to kick a ball.”

The “Culdrose Helipark” was finished as the summer holidays started and a date was set for the grand opening, when those involved in its build could come down to the married quarters and see all hard the work.

But with such a popular facility it was decided to open everything early. Throughout the summer holidays children have flocked to the play park and not a day has gone by when it’s not been used.

Vikki Breen, information officer at the HIVE within the community centre, said: “From dawn to dusk they’re all over it. It’s so popular with all the children and they can play in a really safe environment.”

Tamsin Earnshaw has two children who use the park. She said: “My two come here every day. I love this facility it’s brilliant, really accessible.

“In the old park most of the stuff would always be breaking down and the children just grew out of it.

Here we have bright apparatus that the children love to play with, it’s great!”