The government has submitted a planning application for a new children's park in town, with improved accessibility.

Plans include ripping out the existing equipment, which has reached the end of its lifespan, and replacing it with a new, inclusive play area, in Millennium Park.

In the children's playground (ages six and over) there will be:

• Large climbing frames for children aged seven to 14 and another for five to 10-year-olds,
• Regular swings and a high-backed swing,
• An inclusive roundabout,
• Trampoline,
• Monkey bars,
• And swing basket.

The toddler's play area (five and under) will include:

• Cradle swings,
• A climbing frame/playhouse for two to five-year-olds,
• A See-saw,
• And an inclusive trampoline.

  The proposed layout of the replacement children's playgrounds.

"Play is fundamental to a child's development and no family should be denied the opportunity to access their local play park"

- Millennium Town Park Playground Improvements Report

The current toddler's play area in Millennium Town Park.

The government has prioritised dynamic play, accessibility and the nurturing of senses in their plans.

This means the equipment in the play areas will focus on including at least three senses and having wheelchair accessibility, and whether they will challenge children to use their whole bodies whilst playing.

The design team has decided to keep the new toddler swings and the basket swing in the area for children.

Additionally, the play area will keep separate spaces for toddlers and older children, with the fences maintained.

However, gates to the play park will be improved to be 'auto-closing'.

The plants in the play areas will be kept to include extra, sensory spaces, with the plants encouraging assortment in smell, texture and sight, with diverse colours.

The current children's play area in Millennium Town Park.

To improve the community aspect of the park, the government wants to introduce wheelchair-friendly picnic benches.

The benches will have extended table tops or a gap between seats.

Shaded areas to the top of the play area will be added, using 'shade structures', as the report says it does not benefit from the trees near the toddler space.

The government says the redevelopment is 'modest' and accounts for islanders' opinions, with consultations from people living in the area and Springfield Primary School.

It believes the plans will create a high-quality, inclusive playground, to reach a wider community through accessibility.

Examples of shade structures and accessible picnic benches