The Brief
The brief was clear: create a community hub that brings people together. The play area needed to cater for a wide age range, champion inclusivity at every turn, and leave a lasting legacy for the West Durrington community for generations to come.
The development is a joint venture between Persimmon Homes Thames Valley, Taylor Wimpey, and Vistry — three of the UK's leading housebuilders — and the play space needed to reflect the ambition and quality of the wider project.
The Solution
eibe Play worked alongside the Architect and Project Management team to create a design that balanced excitement, inclusivity, and natural play. The result is a vibrant, multi-zone play environment that caters for everyone — from toddlers taking their first steps to teenagers seeking a challenge.
Key features of the play area include:
- Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) — a versatile all-weather space for sport and active play
- Tough Trail — a unique, challenging play element designed specifically for teenagers
- Toddler Zone — a dedicated, age-appropriate area featuring a wheelchair-accessible multi-play unit, trampoline, and roundabout
- Natural Zones — thoughtfully landscaped areas with age-appropriate equipment, allowing children and parents to play comfortably alongside peers on suitable equipment
The use of distinct natural zones ensures that younger children and their parents can enjoy a calm, safe environment, while older children have the space and equipment to push their boundaries — all within the same cohesive play landscape.
The Installation
Work began on the play space in late 2025, with a firm deadline to open in time for the Easter half-term break. The eibe installation team rose to the challenge, working diligently on site through the demanding conditions of a British winter — battling heavy rain and cold temperatures to deliver the project on schedule.
Their dedication paid off. The play park was completed and ready to welcome the community right on time.
The Opening
The play park was officially opened by Council Leader, Councillor Sophie Cox, who cut the ribbon to mark the launch of the play park and multi-use games area.
To celebrate the occasion, residents and children from the new community were invited to explore the new equipment and enjoy a complimentary ice cream, with eibe Play providing goody bags for every child entering the space.
Cllr Cox said:
"It is wonderful to open the park today and to see so many families here ready to enjoy the play spaces. Thank you to Persimmon Homes for organising this opening and bringing the community together like this. We want to encourage children to get outside in the fresh air and play, and with these facilities now open they will have even more opportunity to do so."
Dan Castle, Managing Director of Persimmon Homes Thames Valley, added:
"Opening a play park is always a pivotal moment in a development. It provides a focal point for the new residents and offers an important new amenity for the existing community. We are delighted to have opened this park at the start of the school holidays and are confident this will provide hours of free, outdoors entertainment for families over the spring and summer."
The Result
The West Durrington play area stands as a testament to what thoughtful, community-focused design can achieve. By combining inclusive equipment, age-appropriate zones, and high-quality play elements, eibe Play has delivered a space that will serve the West Durrington community for years to come — a true legacy play space at the heart of a thriving new neighbourhood.
