In 2016 the Friends of Pittville worked closely with Cheltenham Borough Council to create a new play area and to refurbish the aviaries. The new play area in Pittville Park was officially opened on Sunday 17 July by the Mayor of Cheltenham, Councillor Chris Ryder.
FoP helped with the fundraising for the project which meant that the full plan was implemented in one go. This included:
- £4,400 received through crowdfunding, with another £1,500 plus gift aid raised through JustGiving. One donor, Jessica Lacy, raised nearly £600 for the project.
- £1,770 contributed by cheque, including £500 from Miss Carole Clifford and and another £500 from the Young family (Alex, Andy, Freddie and Lawrence) who own Ravenhurst Luxury Bed & Breakfast at 93 Pittville Lawn and whose boys love the park and play area.
- A grant of £25,000 towards refurbishing the aviaries and small animal enclosures from the Landfill Communities Fund, operated by the Gloucestershire Environmental Trust and provided by Cory Environmental.
- Finally, Cheltenham Borough Council released funds for the project of an additional £99,500 to add to the sum raised through crowdfunding, grants and donations.
The play area is hugely popular for young families and is extremely well-maintained and serviced by Cheltenham Borough Council. We invited Friends of Pittville to suggest names for the featured boat wreck in the sandpit with the final choice being The Jolly Joe – appropriately piratical with a reference to Joseph Pitt.
The Mayor of Cheltenham cutting the ribbon
Pirate ship
Pittville Park Aviary
