Creating Adventurous Places (CAP.Co), the adventure play specialist, has revealed details of one of its latest projects, the Wagon Woods outdoor adventure playground at Hopetown Darlington in north-east England.
Hopetown Darlington is a new visitor attraction which celebrates the railway heritage of Darlington’s Northgate area, and its name reflects the historic Hope Town Foundry and Hopetown Carriage Works. It is set to open in summer 2024.
Design developed with local schools
Hopetown Darlington will combine both purpose-built and historic buildings, including the former Head of Steam Museum, to create a major family destination.
The immersive, railway-themed Wagon Woods playground will be located on the Brusselton Incline, where it will integrate with the existing trees and natural clearings. Along with many other carefully designed, themed features, it will have walkways, bridges, slides, and a multi-level play structure.
The play has been developed following consultation with staff and students from Reid Street Primary School and Beaumont Hill Academy. The resulting design aims to encourage visitors of all ages to be curious and test their bravery, helping guests to learn about managing risk.
Accessibility is a key consideration for both CAP.Co and Hopetown, and so the design includes an accessible incline track with interactive features and a companion slide which is suitable for wheelchair users.
CAP.Co has extensive experience in developing inclusive play spaces and recently consulted with Willow Dene School on a project. Lisa Parascandolo, physical development and MOVE lead and cultural capital lead, comments: “Willow Dene school is a special needs school with students ranging from 2-19, with cohorts of children and young people with complex needs and autism.
“We are so used to being unseen. Or if we are seen, it is in a “less than” capacity. That our children and young people do not have opinions or cannot express what they want or need.
“To be included in this whole process, not just as a tick box exercise, add an accessible swing here, an inclusive roundabout there…an afterthought, but to be asked what we wanted, what would we like to have in a play space, how do our children play. It was truly remarkable.
CAP.Co recently celebrated the opening of The Adventure Play at Windsor Great Park, part of the UK’s Windsor Estate, which opened to visitors in July 2023.
