Swanley Celebrates Record Investment with Refurbished Hilda May Playground
The town council has invested over £330,000 in play facilities this year, with Hilda May Playground now boasting modern, inclusive equipment.
By Natalie Osborne
••3 min read
AI
A newly refurbished children's playground with modern, accessible play equipment.
Hilda May Playground in Swanley has officially reopened on 6 October 2026, following a £23,510 refurbishment that introduced modern, inclusive play equipment.
The playground, affectionately known by some as ‘Blue Park’, is the fourth in Swanley to receive an upgrade this year. The refurbishment, arranged by playground specialists Kompan, saw key representatives from Swanley Town Council and Sevenoaks District Council attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony to view the new facilities.
The investment has transformed the small but cherished local playground with new swings, slides, a multi-play unit, and an accessible spinner. Particular emphasis was placed on improved accessibility, with the multi-play unit featuring low-level activities, role play elements, talk tubes, wheelchair transfer platforms, and accessible steps, ensuring a more enjoyable and inclusive space for all local children and families.
Although Hilda May is the smallest of the four playgrounds upgraded in 2026, its refurbishment is part of an unprecedented programme of investment in play facilities across Swanley. The total investment in playground improvements this year has reached £337,686.37, the largest in the town's history.
The project also aligns with Swanley Town Council’s environmental ambitions, with Kompan’s equipment manufactured using up to 95% recycled materials, including recycled consumer waste and end-of-life fishing nets. The durable design and established supply chains for replacement parts aim to extend the playgrounds' lifespan and reduce future replacement needs.
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"It is fantastic to see another of Swanley’s playgrounds brought back to life. Swanley Town Councillors know that these spaces are incredibly important to families and provide children with somewhere safe, accessible and exciting to play. The scale of investment we have made across Swanley this year is a real statement of our commitment to our younger residents. Hilda May is a much-loved local park and I am delighted to see it given a new lease of life. As we look ahead, I am particularly pleased that these improvements mean our parks are ready for the future and, will become part of the Town Council’s growing portfolio of community assets."
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"This has been an extraordinary year for play in Swanley. To have invested more than £330,000 in our playgrounds in a single year is something the Town can be incredibly proud of. Outdoor play is an important part of growing up, helping children to be active, socialise and develop confidence in the outdoors. It is particularly pleasing that, with Hilda May and Cherry Avenue among the five green spaces that are set to transfer to Swanley Town Council, we will be taking on assets that have been brought up to a modern, fit-for-purpose standard. Our attention now turns towards Swanley Park, our destination park, where we hope to see the playground completely replaced within the next couple of years. This year has shown what can be achieved when we invest properly in play, and we want that ambition to continue."
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"We are delighted to see Hilda May Playground reopened following its refurbishment. Playgrounds are an important part of creating healthy, vibrant communities and provide valuable spaces for children and families to enjoy. The investment being made across Swanley demonstrates the importance of partnership working and we look forward to seeing local residents benefit from these improved facilities for many years to come."
The total investment in playground improvements this year across four projects amounts to £337,686.37. The refurbishment of Hilda May Playground alone cost £23,510.11, funded entirely by Swanley Town Council. Other projects include Swanley Recreation Ground Playground (£141,237.62), Elephant Park Playground (£72,938.64), and Cherry Avenue Park Playground (£100,000.00), which received funding from the National Lottery (£64,727.00), Sevenoaks District Council (£27,773.00), and Swanley Town Council (£7,500.00).
Based on information from the official source: Swanley Town Council (10/10/2026)
