The ‘meanwhile’ play space was funded by the government and will ensure families living on Joyce and Snells have somewhere to go while the estates are developed

Cabinet member for housing Ayten Guzel officially launches St James Playground (credit Enfield Council) — Cabinet member for housing Ayten Guzel officially launches St James Play Space in Angel Edmonton (credit Enfield Council)

A new playground has been launched in Angel Edmonton.

Families from the Joyce Avenue and Snells Park estates gathered this week to celebrate the opening of St James Play Space, a “vibrant new playground designed to bring joy, connection, and safe play to children” living in and around estates.

Both of the estates are set to be redeveloped by Enfield Council at a cost of £800million, with the existing 795 homes making way for a much denser scheme of more than 2,000 homes in blocks up to 26 storeys tall.

The new playground, funded by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, is described as a ‘meanwhile’ facility to ensure families living on the estates still have somewhere to go with their children while other parts are developed.

This week’s launch event included football coaching and calisthenics with Tottenham Hotspur Foundation; a youth bus from the council’s young people’s services; face painting and giant games provided by developer Hill Partnerships; boxing sessions from Edmonton Eagles; magic from Mr Tickles and a DJ providing music.

The new playground at Joyce and Snells estates (credit Enfield Council)

Residents also had the opportunity to meet the Hill Partnerships team who installed the playground, speak with council officers about the regeneration plans, and learn more about support available in the borough.

Council leader Ergin Erbil said: “This new play space is a fantastic example of how we’re achieving real, tangible improvements for our communities now, while we work on the long-term improvement of Edmonton. It’s about creating spaces where families can come together, children can play safely and neighbours can connect.”

Ayten Guzel, cabinet member for housing, added: “The St James Play Space is just the beginning. It shows our commitment to putting residents first and ensuring that the regeneration of Joyce and Snells is about more than buildings. It’s about people, community and opportunity.”

No news is bad news

Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.

The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less.

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.

Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.

Monthly direct debit

Annual direct debit

£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else.