STOP
PRESS 11 March 2010 - It's
open !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It has been a long journey
but the fence has come down and the play
area is now open. Really great to see and
hear the kids at play. Generally the opinion
seems to be that it has far exceeded expectations
with children and parents being very impressed
with the design, layout
and variety of play equipment. Our special
thanks to all the organisations, families
and individuals who have donated money.
A hearty thank you to The Fitz Park Trustees
and the grounds staff who we have worked
with along the way, but above all a
huge vote of thanks to Rachel Graham
who has been working away in the
background raising funds, applying
for permission,
gathering opinion and generally acting as
a focus for the whole scheme. Without her
this would not have been possible.
STOP PRESS End Jan 2010 - Date for the diary. Opening day scheduled for Saturday 27th or Sunday 28th March
The play area will be finished and open before this time but this will be the Grand Opening Event.
We hope that you can come and support what will be a fantastic day.
STOP PRESS Jan 2010 - Latest news - Despite the snow and ice work started on the new play area at 9a.m.
Monday 11th January 2010. This is a seminal moment and the work is expected to be complete in 8 to 10 weeks.
We have also had some more exposure with articles in The Reminder and The Lake District Herald.
STOP PRESS Dec '09 - Latest news - The rugby club, despite being flooded only a couple of weeks ago held a quiz night
and raised £380. There has also been a box of £50 of loose change donated from Maysons Ice Cream parlour and
£1,000 was raised during Fitz Fest back in August. Many thanks to all these organisations for their support.
STOP PRESS Nov '09 - I'm at Ama Dablam Base Camp and I've just received a text from my wife to
say that we have received a grant of £49,999 from The National Lottery. This is absolutely fantactic news
and is really the final piece in the jigsaw that will allow work to start in The New Year.
STOP PRESS Mid Oct '09 - Latest news - we've just been granted a £500 from The Neighbourhood Forum and £350
from the Xmas Fair. Many thanks to both organisations for their support.
STOP PRESS Mid Oct '09 - Last Saturday saw parents and volunteers come together to raise over £1550 for the
Fitz Park ' Make us smile project'. The ‘Scotty and Lulu show ' drew in the excited crowds at Keswick's Rawnsley Hall
and children were entertained by the dynamic duo with a concert packed full of music, comedy and fun.
KidsKeswick got
together and baked cakes and sold refreshments donated by Keswick Fairtrade whilst the play area committee organised
face painting and a raffle. The money raised will go towards the Fitz Park ‘Make us smile project' which aims to redevelop
the play area in Keswick with a phenomenal £180,000 development.
STOP PRESS Oct '09 - There's going to be the event of the year later this month. Scott and Lulu
are putting on the
The Greatest Twits Dance Party UK . Check out the further information and thanks to
Scotty and Lulu for their support
in putting this event on (check out their website - it's great, plus there are some free downloads!). It's on the 17th October.
Have
you got your tickets?
Many thanks to the parents and families of KidsKeswick who have been getting involved and
a big thank you to Keswick Fairtrade who are providing the tea, coffee and sugar for the refreshments for this event.
STOP PRESS Early Oct '09 - Check out the latest updated plans. There's a fantastic toddler area with much more for baby's
and toddlers to do. The kids area is packed with exhilarating ideas and there's some really exciting stuff for the teens too.
STOP PRESS Sep '09 - There's been a lot happening recently. On the 6th Sep there was a sponsored walk and well done
to everyone
who took part - another great event. On the 19th Sep there was a stall on market day with a great raffle and
lots of prizes - this
raised another £450 towards the ever growing play area fund. And ... we have some very exciting updated plans
STOP PRESS Aug '09 - There's been yet another press release following on from the very well attended open morning.
Thank you to all the families and children who took part and, yet again,thanks to Rachel for organising this is with
so much enthusiasm.
make a donation
please e mail Rachel Graham at The Keswick Area Partnership for further details.
STOP PRESS Early Aug '09 - There's going to be a sensory garden workshop on Friday 28th August.
Come along with the kids to give us your(and their) ideas. Biscuits and juice for all.
STOP PRESS late Jul '09 - There's been another publicity push with an article in Kesmail.
Also Andrew Lysser the newly appointed Major has decided that The Play Area is his
charity of choice, which is great news. Thank you Andrew. To make a donation
please e mail Rachel Graham at The Keswick Area Partnership for further details.
STOP PRESS early Jul '09 - A progress report was presented to The Trustees today. Thanks to all the
work being put in by The Trustees, Rachel Graham at KAP, and everyone else who is beavering away we are
on track and on budget. But, as ever, we mustn't take our collective eye off the ball and more funds are still needed.
To make a donation
please e mail Rachel Graham at The Keswick Area Partnership for further details.
STOP PRESS Mid June'09 - There's another letter in The Reminder.
STOP PRESS Early June'09 - BIDS support The Play Area Project with £15,000 We've managed to raise a whopping
£126,900.73 so far (£76,900.73 with £50,000 matched funding PROVIDING WE MANAGE TO RAISE £100,000
OURSELVES). But sadly, this is not enough by any means. There is going to be a play area come what may, and it
will be in the ground by the end of March 2010 (or we lose some of the funding and the whole project collapses). Rachel
Graham, at Keswick Area Partnership, has been beavering away and without her we would not have managed to get this
far. But folks, we need more funds. Please, please think about the enjoyment that your kids will get from what is going
to be probably the best play area in Cumbria. If that's not worth £50 then I don't know what is. If we have £150,000 then
that is what we'll go with and the play area will either have fewer items or we'll have to substitute expensive equipment
with cheaper alternatives. But if we have £200,000 then we will be able to have the best, most exciting, all inclusive
play area that you have been to for a very long time (if ever). 'Don't delay - donate today.'
STOP PRESS End Mar '09 - Following on from the excellent article in The Reminder we have been asked to give an
indicator to families about how much a worthwhile donation would be. Firstly, ANY donation is appreciated no how
BIG or small. Unfortunately these play areas don't come cheap. But to put things in context it will take 50 family
donations of £25 per family to buy a 2 seater baby swing. It will take 45 donations of £30 to buy a single
seat springer or 60 donations of £50 to buy a fantastic Pod swing. When you consider the savings you'll
make not having to drive
to other play areas,
not to mention the fun Fun FUN that your children and
grandchildren will have, then surely
that has got to be worth something? To make a donation
please e mail Rachel Graham at The Keswick Area Partnership for further details.
STOP PRESS Mid Mar '09 - We have Phase 1 approval for National Lottery funding! This is absolutely fantastic
news
and thanks to Rachel Graham at Keswick Area Partnership for all her hard work and dedication. We also
have
quite a few promises and funding from local businesses, charities and families which currently stands
at about £6,000.
An excellent start. If you want to make a donation then please come forward and let us
know.
If you decide to do a sponsored event then there is a form for you to download. Thanks to all
the people
who have provided comment so far but please keep the ideas coming in.
STOP PRESS Early Mar '09 - For those of you who didn't manage to make the open morning session fear not -
the
plans that were on view from Kompan (oblique plan & aerial plan), The Play Practice and Proludic
(oblique plan & aerial plan)
are also here on the website.
There is also a feedback questionnaire.
Please have a look at the plans and give us your feedback.
We need to know
what you and your family think otherwise it won't be 'yours.'
STOP PRESS Feb '09 - There's an open morning session at the Business and Education Centre,
Museum Building on 19th Feb from 10a.m. until 2p.m.. Please come along and see some of the
exciting proposals that we have received so far. It's your chance to vote for your favourite.
STOP PRESS Jan '09 - Following on from the immensely successful Open Day in October we are
pleased
to have the consolidated results from the 47 questionnaires that were completed.
017687 71050 kids@fitzparkplayarea.co.uk
www.fitzparkplayarea.co.uk 07980 521079
(away from 29th Oct - 30th Nov)
Or e mail Rachel Graham directly
(away from 24th Oct - 16th Nov)
|