Closing of the Play Areas:

The decision to close the play areas was taken due to the unprecedented threat to Public Health posed by the outbreak of Covid-19

The decision to close was in response to the risk posed by Covid 19 and to support recommendations of national government for people to avoid places where people will, as a result of the natural use of Play Areas, particularly by Children and parents, congregate in a way that is contrary to the recommendations of national government in regard to social distancing.

The decision to close was taken on the 23 March 2020.

Decision to open the play areas:

Re-opening Play Areas are recognised by the government as valuable and important to the community providing children with a stimulating and tactile experience and providing the ability to learn through play. Opening will support the easing of restrictions and follow government guidance produced to allow opening as measures are introduced to allow minimizing the risk of infection.

Guidance from the government was released on the 26 June 2020, the government has identified that play areas can open from the 4 July 2020 if appropriate measures are in place. The council and Balfour Beatty Living places have inspected all the sites, risk assessed with a planned program of work including erection of signage, distance markings, cleansing of destination sites prior to opening and planned cleaning of other sites being implemented as control measure to mitigate the risks.


All sites are inspected monthly as well as routine visits for bin emptying and grass cutting, this will add to awareness of the sites and potential concerns, the teams we will respond and react as necessary. There will be comms messaging and if necessary, the sites will need to close if issues arise which merit closing. If there are any reports of Covid 19 where the sites have been visited, the sites will close and cleansed with a comms plan to alert and point to track and trace.

There are 67 play areas in Herefordshire of which 9 sites are classified as destination sites as they are an attraction where the public will travel to use. The sites are all in Hereford, Beaumont Gardens, Westfailing Street, 2 no sites on King George V, Luard Walk, Moor Park, Wellington place and Aylestone park. The larger parks in the Market Towns are owned or managed by the Town Councils.

Due to the preparation required to open, the 9 destination sites have been prioritised to open this weekend with a phased opening of all playgrounds over the following week.

The initial opening will commence with the opening of the 9 destination play areas early morning on Saturday 11 July 2020, with a phased approach to opening the other 61sites over the following week with all sites up by the Saturday 1 July, 2020.