THE TOWN’S first ever Adventure Playground opened 55 years ago and was a huge success – now Crawley Borough Council needs your help to recreate a fun-filled 1950s play day.
Based in West Green Playing fields, Crawley’s first adventure playground opened in 1954 and regularly saw up to a hundred children building huts, dug-outs and bonfires using materials and tools donated by local businesses.
One Play Leader would supervise the children to make sure tools were being used properly but the main aim of the playground was to help youngsters explore, play and build without the prying eyes of adults.
Now, Crawley Council hopes to bring together children, parents and grandparents – the whole family, to work together in a ‘scrapheap challenge’ and enjoy the fun of adventure, exploration and creativity that’s not so easy to find today.
A document called ‘Crawley Adventure Playground’ published in 1955 by The Crawley Community Association Adventure Playground Committee, tells the story of the playground and its grand opening, including pictures and extracts from the Play Leader’s diary.
So if you’re in any of the photos or you know someone who is, the council wants to hear your stories and would welcome assistance to help plan the day for next May.
Barby Hartin, Adventure Playground Manager, said: “The document is really beautiful and tells a fantastic story about play which is very different from today. We want to take families back to basics to celebrate the success of our adventure playgrounds and also show, and in many cases, remind, people of a different way to play and learn.
“We really want to get the help and support from the people who were playing at town’s first ever adventure playground all those years ago. We’d love to take them back and their knowledge and stories would help us create the perfect day for generations of families to enjoy.”
To see the document and all the photos log on to the council’s home page www.crawley.gov.uk
If you’re one of the children in the pictures or you have any information to help Crawley Council recreate a 50s play day please contact either Toby Shaw on 01293 438655 / toby.shaw@crawley.gov.uk or Barby Hartin on 01293 542176 barby.hartin@crawley.gov.uk
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