Playgrounds

About our playgrounds

The city has 53 playgrounds, from larger destination parks to smaller neighbourhood parks.

Our playgrounds offer a range of active, outdoor play opportunities and equipment. They support the development and health of children of all ages and abilities.

We aim to inspire all generations to get out and play and create healthier and happier communities.

We're currently working on a playground refurbishment programme. More information on the programme, including upcoming work, can be found further down this page.

The largest play areas in Brighton & Hove are in:

There are also play areas along the seafront, all with water play, at:

Find bus information and timetables to visit our playgrounds.

Managing our playgrounds

We manage and maintain the play areas to ensure they are clean and safe to use, while still challenging and exciting, for all those who use them.   

The safety of children is a priority. We carry out safety checks on every park and every piece of equipment every 2 weeks.    

An independent inspector carries out full inspections of all equipment quarterly and annually.

Find a playground

Find your nearest playground facilities.

Report an incident at a playground

Use our online playground incident reporting form to tell us of any accidents or 'near misses' that occur. This will help prevent any further incidents.

Playground refurbishment programme 

We started a major £3 million refurbishment programme for the city’s playgrounds in 2021.

Between 2021 and 2024, 45 sites will receive a full or partial refurbishment. This will ensure that children of all ages and abilities will enjoy them to the full for many years to come.

Read the Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee report for more information on the programme.

Investment

Section 106 developers' contributions are funding the improvements in this investment round. They are available in certain parts of the city.  

By April 2022, we’d invested £2.6 million in upgrading and improving the equipment in 26 of the city’s play parks.

We have planned upgrades to other playgrounds coming in the next 12 to 18 months.

Find out more about the investment programme.

Preparation work for the playground refurbishment programme

In preparation for the improvement works, we carried out thorough assessments of each of the city’s play parks. This was to check for ongoing safety. It also helps us ensure that they continue to offer the best possible play value we are able to provide and maintain with the resources we have.  

We had to remove some equipment in some parks. This was where equipment had reached the end of its life or could be unsafe.  

In many cases, new play areas will feature equipment made from materials such as stainless steel. This is more durable than wood.  

We're sometimes removing sand or bark pits, as we do not have enough resources to manage and maintain these to ensure they remain safe.

We're working hard to make all of our play areas safe, exciting and enjoyable places to visit and play. Please bear with us while we have to close some sites for refurbishment.

Phase 1 of the playground refurbishment programme

The first phase of the playground project saw a total of 23 parks completed last year.

These include refurbishments that have dramatically improved play opportunities for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities in:

Carden Hill
Easthill Park
Preston Park

Wild Park was completely refurbished in 2023 with:

state-of-the-art fitness equipment
multi-use games area (MUGA) that incorporates football, basketball and 2 mini 5-a-side football pitches
a running track on the outside
a bright and colourful chill-out area

May 2023 progress update

As of May 2023, we have refurbished:  

Blakers Park 
Bexhill Road  
Barn Rise 
Carden Park
Chalk Pit – Warrior Close  
Dyke Road 
East Brighton Park
Easthill Park 
Greenleas Park 
Haig Avenue 
Hodshrove Road 
Hove Park  
Middle Park 
Mackie Park 
Preston Park   
Saunders Park      
St Ann’s Well Gardens
Tarner Park 
Victoria Park 
Vale Park
Wish Park 
Hangleton
St Nicholas
Wild Park MUGA & Fitness

Next phase of the playground refurbishment programme (Summer 2023)

Exciting refurbishments are beginning on 8 playgrounds across the city this summer. The refurbishments are the next phase in our £3 million programme to improve facilities across parks in Brighton & Hove.

The focus of the programme is to provide inclusive and accessible play areas that can be enjoyed by everyone.

In total, 45 parks in Brighton & Hove are benefiting from the funding.

The funding is provided through:

Section 106 from local developments for community and social infrastructure
the Housing Revenue Account
council funding

Upcoming refurbishment work

The refurbishment work will begin in mid-July 2023 in Rottingdean Recreation Ground Play Area.

Work will continue over the summer months on:

Rottingdean Recreation Park - week beginning 17 July, play area closed during works
Whitehawk Way (Top Park) - from Wednesday 19 July, play area closed during works
Saltdean Oval Park – week beginning 24 July, play area partial closure during works
Woollards Field (Maggie’s Corner) - week beginning 31 July
Woodingdean Central Park - week beginning 7 August, play area closed during works
Knoll Park - week beginning 14 August, play area closed during works
Hollingdean Park – week beginning 21 August, play area closed during works
Queens Park – week beginning 4 September, play area partial closure during works

The work is expected to be finished by winter 2023.

Some of the playgrounds may need to be closed during the summer school holidays. This is so the weather doesn’t impact the installation of new equipment and new safety surfaces being laid. We’ll do our best to minimise disruption.

Online maps