Play_Park_Strategy_2021-2030

14 Part 1: Background Purpose of the Strategy The Play Park Strategy 2021-2030 has been developed to provide a strategic direction for the future provision and management of play parks in the Fermanagh and Omagh District Council area. The Play Park Strategy will provide strategic and specific direction that will guide the future provision, upgrade and transformation of play parks. It gives broad directions through specific strategies and actions to inform delivery through the Play Plan 2021– 2030. The Play Park Strategy will assist the Council to sustainably increase the potential of its play parks and broaden the play opportunities to 2030 for children, youth and adults. Why a Strategy is needed Before the implementation of the Play Park Strategy 2021-2030, the Council’s play parks were managed on a repair and replacement programme only, along with the provision of new parks based on Planning requirements or community representation. On this basis, it was identified that there was a need for Council to consider play parks in a holistic manner taking factors such as child demographics, child poverty and access to a car and deprivation, rather than in a reactive and piecemeal way. It was also recognised that the current number of play parks needed to be reviewed to establish a number that could be sustainably managed and provide a quality asset to both residents and visitors to the district.