£100,000 funding to improve Church Lane Play Area

19/12/2025

Church Lane Park, Arnold will soon be improved thanks to £100,000 funding from FCC Communities Foundation.

The sucessful funding application was submitted in partnership with Gedling Borough Council and the Friends of Church Lane Park. It included consultations with the local community, which highlighted the importance of incorporating inclusive play equipment, meeting the needs of local SEN children.

Works on the park are due to start in May 2026 with the improvements and new facilities expected to be completed by Summer 2026. The existing play area will be closed whilst works are carried out.

Leanne Gilchrist, Chair of the Friends of Church Lane Park said;

“This project will provide much needed improvements to a well-used play area, with more modern and inclusive play equipment being installed.

I would like to thank Gedling Borough Council for all the hard work in collating the grant application, and to the FCC Community Foundation, for awarding us the funding. The Friends of Church Lane Park would not have been able to update this play area without their support.”

Councillor Viv McCrossen, Portfolio Holder for Climate Change and Natural Habitat said;

“I’m incredibly pleased that we’ve been able to work in partnership with the local community to bring these major improvements to Church Lane Park. I’d like to thank the Friends of Church Lane Park for working with us on the application, and to FCC Communities Foundation for providing the funding to make this project a reality.

This play area is already a much-loved space, but we want it to be the very best it can be. These improvements will make a real lasting difference for the local community and everyone who enjoys visiting the park.”

Pictured below are images of the current play area before the improvements.