Park transformed with new equipment and mural

Young people have created a new mural featuring local landmarks as part of a park revamp.

Children from Caldicotes and Thorntree Academy primary schools and Thorntree Youth Club helped with the artwork at Spider Park in Brambles Farm, off Colmore Avenue, Middlesbrough.

Swings, slides and climbing frames have been installed as part of a £500,000 investment by Labour Mayor Chris Cooke, to upgrade and improve parks across the town.

"I've committed to improving play spaces across the town and it's brilliant to see Spider Park transformed into a space that's bright, colourful and welcoming for the whole family," he said.

During the school holidays, young people teamed up with local artist Chris Layfield from Open Door Art to create the installation.

Cooke said it was "brilliant" to see so many families and young people from Brambles Farm enjoying the park that was "brought back to life".

CCTV has been put up nearby and inside the park, while equipment to encourage imaginative play for younger children was installed alongside fencing and landscaping.

With a further £200,000 budgeted for maintenance and repair, a Teqball table will be installed while football pitches and a basketball board will be refurbished as part of the works.

Local councillor Graham Wilson, Middlesbrough Independent Councillors Association, said: "This has been years in the making but I'm delighted to see where we've got to and I want to thank all those involved.

"This is a brilliant development for people in Brambles Farm, the park looks fantastic."

Youth Focus North East, which runs Thorntree Youth Club, provided food and activities for visitors and those who took part in painting the mural at the unveiling.

Youth programme manager at the charity, Jane Thompson, said: "This has been a brilliant project and we were happy to be involved.

"The children in Brambles Farm deserve somewhere like this to come and play."

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