WORK has started on a new play area designed to bring a fresh lease of life to a Colchester park.

The £75,000 multi-use games area, at the Old Heath Recreation Ground, is scheduled to be completed by the summer.

The all-weather surface, which will be marked out for basketball and football, is being funded by Colchester Council and will replace grass tennis courts.

Toby Roberts, chairman of the New Town Community Group, welcomed the work as the culmination of long-standing efforts to improve facilities at the park.

He said: “This whole project started a few years back when there were problems with lots of kids misbehaving in the park.

“Some neighbours told them to go away, but that really didn’t work, so we talked to them instead and they said they just had nothing to do.

“We worked with the council to get the money together for a skate park, which they said they wanted.

“But that took so long that the group of kids had grown up and weren’t interested anymore, while some residents were opposed, so we changed focus to the games area.

“It’ll be great to have it ready for the summer and we really want to put a bit more life and facilities into the park to make it the hub of the community.”

A community garden, where fruit and vegetables can be grown, is also part of the plan.

Mr Roberts, of Recreation Road, said: “We want a core group of people to look after the garden, but then a broader group of people willing to put an hour or two in when they can. Anyone who puts in work there will be able to share in the harvest.”

The plan will be discussed at a meeting at Kendall Primary School, on Recreation Road, at 7.30pm, on June 14.

For more information, e-mail Mr Roberts on toby1kenoby@yahoo.com