Pirelli Park now open for families to enjoy improved features
Additional work on the Pirelli Park site is now complete with improvements that offer an area for children and their parents/carers to enjoy as restrictions ease and the sun begins to shine.
New features in the park include the planting of a Hornbeam hedge; a semi-evergreen species that holds its leaves during the winter months and the planting of 20 urban Field Maple trees – a flowering plant species.
More enhancements to the area were made with the re-laying of a footpath to make it a more stable tarmac surface and the installation of three bespoke benches – made out of timber and stainless steel in keeping with the design of the play equipment and unique to the Pirelli site.
The original design of the play area takes inspiration from the heritage of the Pirelli Cableworks factory that used to be where the Pirelli Estate is now. The play space uses the shapes of the cable drums and wires to create structures for play that are unique to this park with the patterns in the safety surface featuring some of the artwork created by local children during the workshops.
The funding for the project came from a combined fund for Play and Public Art, drawn from contributions from the developer of nearby homes, Bellway. This has been used to commission the bespoke play area for the park.
Councillor Alex Bourne, Chair of the Eastleigh Local Area Committee, said: “The improvements to the Pirelli Park have made this a fantastic space for families to enjoy. The benches are a perfect spot for parents and carers to sit and enjoy the new park and watch over their children as they play. Public Open Spaces are an important part of our communities for exercise and wellbeing so it’s fantastic to see the Eastleigh Local Area Committee continually investing in them for the benefit of residents."