By Mal Butler
A play area which can be used by both abled and disabled children, and includes the Island’s first public wheelchair swing, was opened on Sunday.
The Godshill Play Park has been the dream of local resident Nikki Collinson-Phenix and has taken nine years to fulfil. The area at Central Mead was officially opened by Maggie Feltham, 14, who is wheelchair-bound, and Bella and Thea Oatley-Pike, the sisters of Lewis, who suffered with spinal muscular atrophy and died aged 11 in 2020.
Nikki said: “It was an amazing day and an incredible turnout. I hope this play park will now set a precedent for other play parks across the Island. It has been completely self-funded, and it was only built thanks to generous anonymous donors after years of frustration.
“I started this project in 2014 with Karen Feltham, Maggie’s mother, and it’s been a huge challenge. Never in a million years did I think it would take this long. Lots of people have helped us along the way but many fell by the wayside over the years.
“Initially, we had to get planning permission but we just couldn’t raise the funding and the permission ran out. So we started again, and hoped to get Lottery funding, but Covid hit and everything was delayed again. We needed a miracle and it finally came through our donors; they have done this out of kindness and generosity.
“There is a toddler area and a range of equipment for older children as well as accessible and sensory equipment for disabled children. One man, who is wheelchair-bound himself, says it will change his life because he can now take his three children along to play there and join in with them.
“Hopefully, it will take kids away from looking at their computers and help them with their health, well-being and fitness.”
Among those who supported the project were Godshill Parish Council and resident Kevin Rann, of K R Rann Groundworks.
In another boost for Godshill, planning permission has been granted for a new village hall on another part of the Central Mead site.
Isle of Wight Observer