Residents, customers, partners and colleagues came together to celebrate the official opening of the new Avenue Sucy Play Park and Garden in Camberley on 28 July.
The event marked the completion of a project delivered by Accent Housing in partnership with Surrey Heath Borough Council, with funding and support provided by both organisations, creating a welcoming outdoor space where residents of all ages can play, relax and spend time together.
Families enjoyed a day of free activities, including sports, games, face painting and ice cream, while exploring the new play area and garden and meeting members of the Accent team and other guests, including the Chief Executive of Surrey Heath Borough Council, the Mayor and Deputy Mayor, as well as local councillors.
The excitement surrounding the new play park had been building long before the opening day. One local parent said her three-year-old daughter had been "talking about the new park every day" after receiving information about the project, even sleeping with the colourful leaflet because she was so excited. The youngster proudly pointed out her favourite features and said she couldn't wait to have "a fun park instead of a boring one."
The new community space has been designed in partnership between Accent and the local council, to encourage recreation, wellbeing and stronger community connections, providing a lasting asset for local residents.
Nick Apetroaie, CEO of Accent, said: "Seeing the smiles on customers' faces at the opening of Avenue Sucy Play Park and Garden shows exactly why projects like this matter. We want the communities where we provide homes to be places where people can thrive, and creating safe, attractive spaces for children to play and neighbours to connect is an important part of that. This project is a fantastic example of what can be achieved through strong partnership working with Surrey Heath Borough Council, and we are delighted to have helped create a lasting community asset that will be enjoyed for many years to come."
Councillor Alan Ashbery, Portfolio Holder, Built Environment & Regulation Surrey Heath Borough Council added; “We are delighted to have worked alongside Accent Housing to deliver this fantastic new community space for residents. High-quality parks and green spaces play an important role in supporting health, wellbeing and stronger communities, and it has been wonderful to see so many families enjoying the facilities on opening day. This project demonstrates our shared commitment to investing in places that bring people together and create lasting benefits for the people of Camberley."
Cara Jackson, Assistant Director of Housing Services at Accent, commented: “It is fantastic to see this project come to life and make such a positive difference for local customers. The new playground and community garden provide welcoming spaces where people of all ages can spend time outdoors. It is incredibly rewarding to see the vision become a reality. From the outset, our aim was to create a space that supports wellbeing and brings people together. This achievement reflects the strength of partnership working between Accent Housing and Surrey Heath Borough Council, and I would like to thank everyone involved for their support and commitment.”