Bassett Park

Aim of Project:

To undertake a complete refurbishment of the park and create a safe, modern, recreational facility for a wide range of users

Welsh Government funding of £400,000 through the Barry Regeneration Area programme has transformed an important open space into an exciting new play area for local youngsters of all ages.

Bassett Park is located between Bassett Street and Everard Street and fronts onto Holton Road, to the east of Barry Town Centre. It is situated in a densely populated residential area and therefore the project provides a fun, new play space for a large number of local young people.  

The new park has been designed to create a safe, modern recreation facility in consultation with the local residents. The development includes a mixture of sports courts and play areas for children of all ages. There are also grass areas including areas for natural play and seating areas for picnics, whilst other works have included the renewal of the park’s boundaries and improving the safety of the park through the benefit of CCTV coverage.

Community consultation with local young people was undertaken in November 2010, this included a questionnaire to local residents asking specifically for the input of younger

people in designing and developing the project.

In addition a user survey of the park was issued to the park’s wider user group via leaflet drop and the council website. The findings of the survey and youth consultation influenced the choice of new facilities that were provided

Enthusiastic young people ranging from the ages of 6 to 14 have also added their own creative touches to the park in the form of an art wall.

Undertaken in two phases during school holidays a large number of young people have supported the project by taking part in painting and brightening up the walls that surround the park. They were aided by the assistance of the VIBE youth street team and members of the local community. The art wall includes a including silhouettes of those who took part in creating the artwork. It is hoped that by the young people in the community having an active role in designing the facility it will have fostered a real sense of ownership of the park. The hard work of all the members involved in the art project and the positive impact of the scheme has been recognised by it winning a national award “The Youth Work Excellence Award for Community Project” awarded by Welsh  Government.

Initial feedback has revealed the facility has been well-received by the local community, its residents and their children. Local resident Samantha Taylor, who had previously used the park with her two young children, Rose aged 6 and Matthew, 3, said: “I used to bring the children here, but not very often because the equipment was old and some of it was broken.

Now I bring the children here two or three times a week; it’s fantastic. The equipment is safe and of good quality and the facilities are suitable for all ages.”

The award winning artwall has added a real vibrancy to the park.