Norwich: Mile Cross children's park £50K upgrade criticised

Known as Bowers Park, or Spa Park, located between Bowers Avenue and Boundary Road in Mile Cross, it was re-opened in July 2021 following a £50,000 investment after being closed when glass was found in the sandpit.

But those living nearby say changes made to the park have made things worse and even "dangerous".

The park is located in between Bowers Avenue and Boundary Road, in the Mile Cross area (Image: Dawn Slater)

Michelle Menzies lives in Bowers Avenue with her two children Lillie, eight and Jessie, five.

The 37-year-old said: "It's really bad down there and looks very rundown.

"The large slide has been removed but a monstrosity of a fence has been left around it and it's dangerous.

Michelle Menzies with her two children, Lillie and Jessie (Image: Michelle Menzies)

"I've seen young children using it like a climbing frame because they don't have an actual one here but they could easily get hurt.

"Parents in the community have all said the changes to the park don't seem worth the money.

"It's just not a very appealing park to go to anymore."

The park was closed back in 2021 after glass was found in the sandpit there (Image: Dawn Slater)

A spokeswoman for Norwich City Council said: "The play equipment in Bowers Avenue was upgraded in 2021.

"A new slide is expected to be added to the playground in spring this year and until then, the council had to fence off the area where the slide will go as a safety measure.

"We're looking at funding opportunities for extra seating in the play area and new surfacing because of recurring vandalism to the safety surface that was put in."

Dawn Slater, 51, also lives in Bowers Avenue and regularly takes her grandchildren to the park.

Dawn Slater, 51, has lived in the Mile Cross estate all her life (Image: Dawn Slater)

She added: "It looks tattered and bare.

"If I'd paid £50K and ended up with a park like that I wouldn't be very happy.

"It still looks like it's under construction with the metal fence around where the old slide used to be and it looks more of a mess than when the work started.

"The park needs more items for young teenagers like a zip-line, which used to be there as well as some fitness equipment and more benches for parents to sit on while their kids play."

A metal fence has been placed around the old slide which has been deemed dangerous by parents (Image: Dawn Slater)