Playgrounds
Find your nearest playgrounds and give us feedback.
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 2023, 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. 23 parks have already been refurbished and are being enjoyed by children and young people across the city.
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 Queens Park.
Work will continue over the summer months on:
- Queens Park
- Hollingdean Park
- Woodingdean Central Park
- Whitehawk Way
- Knoll Park
- Woollards Field (Maggie’s Corner)
- Saltdean Oval Park
- Rottingdean Recreation Park
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.
Hollingbury Park Play Area
The next play area we’re looking to revamp is Hollingbury Park.
We want to hear from you about what improvements you think can be made to create a dynamic space that suits a wide range of physical and sensory needs.
Your opinions will shape the future of Hollingbury Park Play Area
To make sure your views are heard, complete our short online Hollingbury Park Play Area Consultation.
The consultation is open from 26 May 2023 until 30 June 2023.
Playground refurbishment programme: Play Area update sessions
We're running Play Area update sessions from 30 May 2023 to 6 June 2023.
The sessions will show you the chosen designs which have been designed with your consultation views.
Whitehawk Way (Top Park)
- Tuesday 30 May, 10am to midday
- Friday 2 June 10am to midday
Hollingdean Park Play Area, MUGA & Gym
- Tuesday 30 May 2pm to 4pm
- Saturday 3 June 2pm to 4pm
Queens Park Play Area
- Wednesday 31 May 2pm to 4pm
- Saturday 3 June 10am to midday
Woollards Field (Maggie’s Corner) Play Area
- Friday 2 June 10am to 11:30am
Rottingdean Rec Play Area
- Friday 2 June 1pm to 2:30pm
Saltdean (Oval) Play Area
- Friday 2 June 2pm to 4:30pm
Knoll Park Play Area
- Wednesday 31 May 11am to 1pm
Woodingdean Play Area
- Wednesday 31 May 10am to midday
- Tuesday 6 June 2:30pm to 4:30pm
We hope that you will come along.