PLAY areas costing £2.5m have been unveiled across the borough.

In total 28 play areas have been created or had a makeover and children are already making use of them.

The scheme, funded by £2.5m from the Department of Children, Schools and Families’ Play Pathfinder project, has seen work take place on play areas from Batley to Holmfirth.

And Kirklees Council has just completed the final work, which saw them create 11 new play areas and refurbish old ones.

Facilities include an adventure play ground and two multi-use games areas.

Clr Mary Harkin, cabinet member for regeneration, said: “The funders and Kirklees Council are keen to avoid play areas which children quickly become bored of and which then become prone to vandalism.

“Each design has been worked on with local children and young people and their ideas were key to the finished article.”

The new playgrounds are targeted at eight to 13-year-olds because of a local and nation shortage of play opportunities for this age range.

They include zip wires and skating areas.

The new play areas and games areas are at – Beaumont Park, Clayton West Play Areas, Fieldhead Recreation Ground, Linthwaite, Howden Clough Recreation Ground, Hyrstlands Park, Batley Carr, Mirfield Memorial Ground, Oakwell Hall, Birstall, Ravensknowle Park, Moldgreen, Sands Park, Holmfirth, Staincliffe Park, Walpole Recreation Ground, Cliffe House Adventure Playground, Shepley and Knowl Park, Mirfield and Scissett Middle School Multi-Use Games Areas.

A spokeswoman for Kirklees Council added: “The play areas have a more natural feel, both in the materials used and play opportunities offered.

“No rubber surfacing has been used, instead the new playgrounds are generally on bark which gives an equal level of protection and is better value for money – meaning more equipment on each site.

“Furthermore, where possible and where major hazards such as main roads aren’t close by, the play areas are not fenced to avoid youngsters’ play experiences from being literally hemmed in and instead encourage them to play in the wider park and environment.”

The council’s Young People’s Service Play Team worked with children to get their ideas for the sites, which will be inspected every two weeks.

Beaumont Park: There’s a new sand pit and wooden climbing pyramid. Planting has been added with stepping stones and routes through between the play area and the sand pit. For older children there is a large tyre swing, a climbing frame and a tunnel. The Friends of Beaumont Park were integral to the development.

Clayton West Play Areas: Both Holmfield and Back Lane Recreation Grounds have been renovated, with the refurbishment of the younger children’s equipment on both sites and the provision of new teen facilities including a ball wall at Back Lane. There is also a zip wire, a tyre swing and a huge twin fly which simulates sky diving.

Fieldhead Recreation Ground, Linthwaite: There’s a zip wire, hill climber and monkey bars, plus landscaping on the site and bridges across a shallow moat which has clean spring water for paddling.

Mirfield Memorial Ground: There is a six metre climbing pyramid and a zip wire, an unusual four-arm spinning swing with a different feature on each arm such as a rope basket and a climbing rope.

Ravensknowle Park, Moldgreen: The playground for younger children has been retained and equipment for older children has been added, which includes a Viking swing, an area for skateboards, bikes and roller skating.

Sands Park, Holmfirth: The playground has been extended and includes a new climbing frame, an inclusive swing, zip wire and, at the request of children, it features elephants under blankets – large earth mounds which look like sleeping elephants under a blanket of grass which offer hiding, rolling, scrambling and running.