Shepton Mallet Town Council has annouced a £200,000 redevelopment of Collett Park's playground. This exciting opportunity has been made possible by support from charitable donations and will see the area redesigned to enhance and reflect the natural beauty of the park and cater to people of all abilities.

Collett Park is described as the 'jewel in Shepton's crown' and the new playground aims to reflect this, with a dynamic and inclusive play area suitable for a wider age group. Following consultation from residents and stakeholders, the current play area was identified as a priority for redevelopment, offering limited equipment and play value.

The extensive renovation is being carried out by Sutcliffe Play South West, whose creative design will encourage creativity and inclusive play. The new playground will feature areas for quiet play, toddlers and juniors, with a range of innovative and stimulating equipment for children of all ages and abilities, including an active climbing net, trampoline, rope bridge, sensory games panel, and activity tables. Construction of the new Collett Park playground is expected to start in the new year and open by the end of March. It will be an invaluable space for children and families to come together and enjoy for years to come.

Matt Harrison, Chair of Shepton Mallet Town Council said, "Shepton Mallet is a growing town with nearly a fifth of the residents children or teenagers; we love our park but need to ensure it has the facilities to reflect the town's needs. We've spent a lot of time listening to residents and working with play park experts to select a park that not only offers a brilliant play experience but also actually enhances the natural beauty of a classic Victorian park. By re-positioning the facility, we'll not only be providing more, better equipment but will open up vistas of the park and beyond. And beyond the play park we have plans to enhance other facilities too. We'll be consulting on these with residents over the next few months. 2023 will be an exciting year for Collett Park!"