National Play Day on 1 August 2012 will see the formal opening of a new £150,000 games pavilion in Harrogate’s popular Valley Gardens.
This carbon friendly building will provide improved access to much needed facilities close to the children’s play area which itself underwent a £180,000 makeover in 2009. It will also guarantee a staff presence during busy times improving security in the park.
Harrogate Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Cultural Services, Councillor Pat Jones, said:
We have wanted to provide these new facilities for a number of years but it takes time to put the funding package together. I am absolutely delighted with the new pavilion as it will provide better facilities for all users. It is in a more prominent position in the park and will also provide toilet facilities something we have received many requests for since the successful refurbishment of the play area. There will be light refreshments served from the pavilion which means a family can plan to stay a while.
I would like to thank Bardsey Building Contractors who kept to the contract deadline, despite the terrible weather we have had, thereby ensuring that the pavilion is open and ready for the summer school holidays. I would also like to thank the council’s building surveyor Mark Coston and senior engineer Wayne Trott who have managed this contract on our behalf.
Harrogate Borough Council is committed to a carbon reduction programme and this new building uses the latest technology to minimise its carbon footprint. As well as sun pipes to channel daylight into the building, it also saves on electricity by using photo voltaic fans to circulate fresh air. The building will also harvest rainwater to be used in the toilets and has a Wallgate handwashing machine which uses less water and heating than a conventional system.
At 1.30 pm on Wednesday, 1 August 2012, Mayor of the Borough, Councillor Robert Windass, will cut a ribbon to declare the Valley Gardens Games Pavilion open.
