The Anglo-American playground in Saffron Walden is near completion following a refurbishment project.

Saffron Walden Town Council established a playground working group in 2020, after the refurbishment of the Common playground.

In 2021 the group oversaw the renewal of the Golden Acre playground, and since 2022 they have been working on the refurbishments of other town council-owned playgrounds at the Anglo-American Playing Fields and in Little Walden.

The Anglo-American playground's refurbishment includes a new zip wire, swings, springers, refurbished junior and toddler units - as well as a new slide, see saw and roundabout.

Saffron Walden Reporter: The Anglo-American playground refurbishment is nearing completionThe Anglo-American playground refurbishment is nearing completion (Image: Saffron Walden Town Council)

R4U Cllr Dave McLellan, chair of the town council's assets committee, said: "We are absolutely delighted with the quality and range of equipment in the new playground at the Anglo-American Playing Fields.

"The decision was consciously made to keep the more rural look and feel of the playground, and replicate the best used pieces of equipment, whilst updating and expanding the range of apparatus.

"We’re also pleased, that in keeping with the refurbishment of both the Common and Golden Acre playgrounds over the last four years, it has been made accessible with a range of disability enabled equipment."

The date for completion has not yet been set. Once the playground is completed the public will be invited to an opening event, with details to be announced.

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Cllr McLellan continued: "We expect the wet-pour surfacing to go down soon and the playground to be open over the next few weeks, followed by a formal reopening later in the year, with the community involved.

"At R4U we believe we should be investing in community facilities through the councils we lead.

"We’re very proud of the play and sports facilities that we’ve provided through the Town Council, and the numerous awards SWTC has won for them.

"We’d also like to thank the residents who took part in the various playground consultations to help guides the design and equipment."

The Anglo-American Playing Fields have existed since 1954, when the town council collaborated with the US Air Force to create a level playing field, with a neighbouring memorial to US forces who gave their lives.