Dawlish is getting a new play park.

Almost £150,000 of developers’ cash is being put towards the area in Manor Gardens and work is already underway. Dawlish Town Council gave the go-ahead for the £320,000 project earlier this year.

The town council is providing up to £200,000 with Teignbridge’s ruling executive agreeing to provide £143,000 from developers at a meeting on Tuesday [6 December].

The play park and trail will provide improved recreational and leisure facilities for all users, with paths and equipment designed to be wheelchair friendly and other features for the visually impaired.

The trail includes interactive sensory ‘play totems’ and a climbing trail.

Earlier this year, Teignbridge also agreed to put £280,000 of developer payments towards refurbishment of The Den seafront play park in Teignmouth.

Recommending approval for the Dawlish contribution, a council report concluded: ‘The trail and park could have a transformational impact for Dawlish in the same way that The Den play area had in Teignmouth, with wider economic benefits to the town and businesses in the town centre.’

It added: ‘The proposal represents a very positive opportunity to enhance play provision for all in Dawlish.’

Following approval from Dawlish councillors over the summer, a promotional video said it was ‘exactly what the young people of Dawlish have asked for,’ adding: ‘This is a gold play park, which is the best in Devon, if not the country.’

‘It will also bring people into Dawlish from far and wide and will make Dawlish a destination town,’ the video claimed.

The park is expected to be ready for use early next year.