Islington adventure playgrounds to remain open...

Contents

Protection for four Islington adventure playground sites
Job security for long-term playwork staff
Commissioning arrangements with Islington Play Association

Islington Council has moved to reassure families that four of the borough’s most prominent adventure playgrounds will continue to operate, despite widespread social media speculation regarding their future. The local authority confirmed it is working to maintain services at Crumbles Castle, Lumpy Hill, Martin Luther King, and Timbuktu, while also seeking to protect the jobs of long-serving staff members.

Cllr Una O’Halloran, Leader of Islington Council, issued a direct statement to address the anxiety felt by parents and carers. The intervention follows a period of uncertainty triggered by the announced closure of a nearby nursery, which led to broader fears about the stability of play services managed by the Islington Play Association (IPA).

Protection for four Islington adventure playground sites

The commitment covers four specific locations that have served the community for decades. These sites—Crumbles Castle, Lumpy Hill, Martin Luther King, and Timbuktu—are recognized as vital urban spaces where children can engage in supervised, high-quality outdoor play. These playgrounds are unique for their focus on ‘adventure play,’ which encourages child-led activity and physical development in a secure environment.

Council leadership emphasized that these sites are not merely physical assets but are defined by the people who run them. Many of the staff members at these playgrounds have spent years building deep-rooted relationships with local families, often supporting multiple generations of the same household. The council has stated that safeguarding these roles is a priority as they look to transition the service into a more stable long-term footing.

Job security for long-term playwork staff

A central concern for the community has been the fate of the experienced playworkers who facilitate daily activities at the four sites. Cllr O’Halloran noted that the trusting relationships developed between staff and families are what make these playgrounds valuable. The council is currently engaged in behind-the-scenes efforts to ensure that the expertise of the current workforce is retained, even as the management structure of the services faces scrutiny.

This move to protect jobs is seen as a vital step in maintaining the continuity of care that Islington families depend on. For many parents, the adventure playgrounds provide more than just recreation; they offer a reliable childcare solution that allows parents to work while knowing their children are in a familiar and safe setting.

Commissioning arrangements with Islington Play Association

The current situation stems from the complex relationship between the local authority and the Islington Play Association. The IPA is an independent charity that the council commissions to deliver specific childcare and adventure play services across the borough. While the IPA operates as a separate entity, its reliance on council contracts means that any change in commissioning can have a significant impact on service delivery.

The recent anxiety was exacerbated by the confirmed closure of the nursery at Paradise Park Children’s Centre, which is also managed by the IPA. While the nursery closure is moving forward, the council has clarified that the four adventure playgrounds are being treated as a separate priority. The goal is to ensure that these spaces remain available for future generations of Islington children, regardless of the challenges facing the charity sector or specific nursery provisions.

Council officers are currently reviewing the delivery models for these sites to ensure they remain sustainable. This includes looking at how to maintain the high standards of safety and engagement that the Islington Play Association has historically provided, while providing a more robust framework for the playgrounds to operate within the borough’s wider youth and family support strategy.

Source: Islington Council