A brand-new children’s play area will be coming to Murray Road Recreation Ground, with work beginning today (Monday 19 January).
The space will include 29 new pieces of play equipment for children aged between one and 14-years-old, including a one-of-a-kind Suffolk Punch horse to showcase the history of the area, which was once a horse racing course. Other standout features include a starting block with binoculars, a show jumping panel and trail, a winner’s podium and a racetrack.
Inclusive equipment such as a wheelchair-accessible carousel, braille alphabet and number play, and sign language learning will be included. A communication panel, which is designed specifically for children who have difficulty communicating, so they can share their thoughts by pointing at the different symbols, will also be installed.
The work is part of the overarching £3.5m play area strategy for Ipswich, with Murray Road Recreation Ground being the first site of 2026 to be started.
Councillor Lucy Trenchard, Ipswich Borough Council Portfolio Holder for Parks and Climate Change, said: “I’m pleased that work on yet another play area in Ipswich will be beginning today, to give children more space to get outside, use their imagination and play.
“The horse themed play equipment is a great way to mark the history of our town, and we hope it will give children a greater knowledge of where they live, whilst giving them a place to reenact the horse races that happened there many years ago.”
Whilst the new play area is being installed, the current play area will be closed for safety reasons. The new play area is due to be open in Spring 2026.