TWO newly-refurbished playgrounds were officially opened this week in Hillingdon. 
 
Albion Road playground in Hayes and St Peter's Road playground in Cowley are the latest sites to receive upgrades in a four-year £1.6m programme, with 26 sites in total set to benefit. 
 
The playgrounds were officially opened by the Mayor of Hillingdon, Cllr Shehryar Ahmad-Wallana, and Cllr Eddie Lavery, Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services.
 
The new equipment at St Peter’s Road includes an inclusive see-saw, cradle seat swing, springer, tipi carousel, a climbing frame with monkey bars and a junior multi-play unit with slide, specifically for younger children. 
 
At Albion Road, youngsters can enjoy a three-way see-saw and wheelchair-accessible roundabout, as well as playing on a double-tower multi-play unit, a fireman's pole, hopscotch or going down the extra wide slide. 
 
The improvements in Albion Road go along with the planting of new trees through a partnership with the charity Trees for Cities and enovated tennis courts in the adjacent Rosedale Park.  
 
Cllr Lavery said: “The vast array of green spaces in Hillingdon is a real jewel in the borough’s crown, but it takes a huge amount of time, hard work and money to keep them in such good condition.  
 
“We consider this a very worthy investment that will enable young residents to live healthy, active lives.” 
 
A further three playgrounds will be refurbished next year.