New Inclusive Playground Opens at East Beach, Shoeburyness
Coastal-themed facility offers accessible play for children of all needs, funded by the Council's Civic Pride Action Plan.
By Rebecca Flint
••3 min read
AI
Generic image of a modern, inclusive playground with diverse play equipment and seating areas.
A new flagship inclusive playground, designed with a coastal theme, has opened at East Beach in Shoeburyness, offering accessible play facilities for young people with a wide range of needs.
The playground, which opened on Friday 16 October, provides a welcoming space for children to play together, featuring wheelchair-accessible equipment, climbing and balancing activities, and interactive elements that engage sound, touch, and colour. A large submarine play structure, inspired by the area's maritime heritage, includes its own periscope.
The new facility also boasts new trees and plants, small grassy hills, stepping logs, and shaded seating, creating an attractive environment for families to play, spend time together, and relax. The Council allocated £671,000 for the design and construction of the playground, which is part of its Civic Pride Action Plan. It is designed for various ages and includes equipment for neurodiverse young people and those with physical disabilities.
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"This is a fantastic new space where young people with different needs can play together, and families can enjoy everything East Beach has to offer. A lot of care has gone into making the playground welcoming and accessible, and I'm looking forward to seeing it enjoyed by families from Shoeburyness and across Southend."
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"When we promised to invest in Southend's parks and playgrounds, we meant it. This fantastic new £671,000 playground at East Beach is another example of our administration delivering on that promise and making a real difference to families across our city. Every child deserves somewhere they can play, have fun and make memories, regardless of their abilities or additional needs. I'm particularly proud that we've put inclusion at the heart of this investment, creating a space where children can enjoy themselves together. This is what civic pride means to me. Investing in our communities, improving the places people love and building a city that every family can feel proud to call home."
The design process involved engagement with local families and the Southend SEND Independent Forum to ensure accessibility and inclusive play were central to the scheme. A spokesperson for the forum expressed pleasure at the focus on inclusive play spaces, highlighting the importance of opportunities for children of all abilities to play alongside one another.
This new playground complements other enhancements in the East Beach area, including two cafes, parking, CCTV, and upgraded public toilets with a Changing Places facility. It also aligns with the Council's separate £2 million Parks Improvement Programme, which is upgrading play areas at Southchurch Park, Oakwood Park, Friars Park, and Bournes Green Park.
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"This fully accessible playground is another major step forward. I am grateful to our community and partners, including the Southend SEND Independent Forum, whose input has helped create a place where children of all abilities can play together."
