Park for Life

 

Legendary footballer Gary Lineker joined Patricia Hewitt MP to cut the ribbon and mark the official opening of a brand new playground at Abbey Park.

 

The state of the art playground has been developed through a £100,000 donation from local employer Walkers, part of PepsiCo.

 

 

 

As part of the celebrations, children from Gary’s old school, Caldecote Community Primary were invited to the opening and given the special opportunity to gain coaching tips from the famous ex-pupil and to enjoy test driving the new play equipment.

 

The playground is designed to encourage children to engage in physical activity, as well as providing a place for social interaction and fun. The benefits are not just limited to children, as parents and guardians will also enjoy a central seating area where they can socialise and watch their children play.

 

Featuring a mix of traditional and innovative play equipment, the playground includes an integrated football/basketball area and climbing section as well as an ‘i.play’. The ‘i.play’ is a unique piece of electronic play equipment designed to appeal to the video game generation and was specially developed by Progressive Sports Technologies, a spinoff from Loughborough University’s Sports Technology Institute. Unlike the video games from which it takes inspiration, the ‘i.play’ is designed to improve fitness, co-ordination and agility, while still being a great source of fun and entertainment.

 

Walkers, a keen supporter of the local community, has donated the playground to provide Leicester families with a safe and family friendly place they can enjoy for years to come. It has developed the playground in close collaboration with Leicester council and has been supported throughout by Patricia Hewitt MP and Andy Connelly Councillor for Culture and Leisure, Leicester.