A new flagship inclusive playground has opened today at East Beach in Shoeburyness (Friday 16 October), ready for families to enjoy ahead of the October half-term.
The coastal-themed playground provides an accessible and welcoming place where young people with a wide range of needs can play together.
It includes wheelchair-accessible equipment, climbing and balancing activities, and interactive features using sound, touch and colour. Families can also explore a large submarine play structure with its own periscope, inspired by Shoeburyness's maritime heritage.
New trees and plants, small grassy hills, stepping logs and shaded seating have also been added, creating an attractive place where families can play, spend time together and relax.
The Council has allocated £671,000 to design and build the new playground, which forms part of its Civic Pride Action Plan. It has been designed for a range of ages and includes equipment for neurodiverse young people and those with physical disabilities.
Edel, from Southchurch, was among the first to visit the new playground with her 18-month-old son, Rian. She said Rian thoroughly enjoyed exploring the new facilities and that they would definitely be returning to East Beach more often.
Cllr Daniel Cowan, Leader of the Council, and Cllr Cheryl Nevin, Cabinet Member for Civic Pride, visited the new playground on Friday ahead of its opening to the public.
Cllr Nevin said: "This is a fantastic new space where young people with different needs can play together, and families can enjoy everything East Beach has to offer.
"A lot of care has gone into making the playground welcoming and accessible, and I'm looking forward to seeing it enjoyed by families from Shoeburyness and across Southend."
Cllr Cowan said: "When we promised to invest in Southend's parks and playgrounds, we meant it. This fantastic new £671,000 playground at East Beach is another example of our administration delivering on that promise and making a real difference to families across our city.
"Every child deserves somewhere they can play, have fun and make memories, regardless of their abilities or additional needs. I'm particularly proud that we've put inclusion at the heart of this investment, creating a space where children can enjoy themselves together. This is what civic pride means to me. Investing in our communities, improving the places people love and building a city that every family can feel proud to call home."
The design was informed by engagement with local families and the Southend SEND Independent Forum, helping to make sure accessibility and inclusive play were at the heart of the scheme.
A spokesperson for the Southend SEND Independent Forum said: "We are pleased to see a focus on creating more inclusive play spaces for children and young people in Southend. Opportunities for children of all abilities to play alongside one another are so important, and we welcome initiatives that aim to make local spaces more accessible and welcoming for families."
The new playground complements other improvements in the East Beach area, including two cafes, parking, CCTV and upgraded public toilets with a Changing Places facility for people with complex accessibility needs and their carers.
It also complements the Council's separate £2 million Parks Improvement Programme, which is improving play areas at Southchurch Park, Oakwood Park, Friars Park and Bournes Green Park.
The work across the four parks includes new and refurbished play equipment, better access for people with disabilities, new surfaces around the equipment, benches, paths and planting. The designs were informed by feedback from residents.
Cllr Steven Wakefield, Deputy Cabinet Member, said: "I have worked hard alongside the local community and the Joint Administration to support the continued rejuvenation of East Beach, including improvements to the cafes, toilets, car park and surrounding area.
"This fully accessible playground is another major step forward. I am grateful to our community and partners, including the Southend SEND Independent Forum, whose input has helped create a place where children of all abilities can play together."