SWANSEA: Council announces £11m investment in play areas and wheeled sports facilities

The investment was highlighted during a visit by Dawn Bowden, Welsh Government Minister for Children and Social Care, to Coed Gwilym Park in Clydach, which has benefited from both schemes.

£8m Play Area Programme Since Pandemic

The council says it has invested around £8 million in creating or refurbishing over 80 community play areas since 2021. The project was supported by an additional £5 million in Welsh Government funding this year to help create inclusive and accessible play spaces, according to the council.

At Coed Gwilym Park, the funding has helped secure a wheelchair seesaw and a wheelchair trampoline, which are currently under construction. A new natural play area and a zipwire are also being added.

Welsh Government Minister Dawn Bowden said:

“It was great to visit Coed Gwilym Park and see how the local authority has been listening to the voices of children in developing play spaces. These improvements, supported by Welsh Government funding, will make a real difference to children and their families, providing opportunities to play and be active with friends.”

Andrew Stevens, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Infrastructure, said the programme was inspired by the pandemic.

“When we came out of the pandemic, the council made a commitment to modernise community play areas that’s seen more than 80 of them improved over the last five years. It means no child is far from a local, safe place to play outdoors with their friends.”

£3m Wheeled Sports Investment

The council has also announced a £3 million investment to upgrade facilities for BMX, skateboarding, and other wheeled sports.

New plans announced by the council include:

• Coed Gwilym Park, Clydach: Dirt track and jumps
• Coed Bach Park, Pontarddulais: Dirt track
• Morriston Park: Pump track
• Heol Las Park, Birchgrove: Pump track
• Maesteg Park, St Thomas: Pump track
• Ynystawe Park: Skate park
• SA1 Prince of Wales Docks: Pump track
• A new regional skate park (location to be confirmed)

The council says upgrade work has already been completed on a new skatepark at Coed Bach in Pontarddulais and a skatepark at Parc Melin Mynach in Gorseinon.

Cllr Andrew Stevens said:

“We’re determined to make Swansea one of the best places in Wales for wheeled sports, and today’s announcement of further new locations shows the scale of our ambition. Our long-term aim is to create a connected, inclusive and high-quality network of wheeled sports facilities that support healthier lifestyles, youth engagement and stronger communities across Swansea.”

A public forum to discuss the plans will be held at the Guildhall on Wednesday, February 25, from 5pm to 6.30pm, according to the council.

Hayley Gwilliam, Cabinet Member for Community Services, said:

“The feedback we’ve had from children, their families and communities has been tremendous. The investment is one of the largest and most sustained commitments to outdoor play areas of this kind anywhere in the UK.”

Swansea skateboarders back £2.8m investment in wheel sports facilities

Three members of Swansea’s skateboarding community have welcomed the city’s growing investment in wheel sports, saying it will help meet demand, encourage new riders, and raise Swansea’s profile as a destination for skateboarding and BMX.

Kate Leonard, co-founder of Exist Skatepark, coach Jon Lawton, and Bishopston-based skateboarder Will Muxworthy say the improvements—led by Swansea Council in partnership with design specialists Curve Studio—are long overdue and will help level the playing field with other parts of the UK.

The council is investing £2.8 million in a network of upgraded and new facilities across the city, with the aim of ensuring that no resident is more than two miles from a high-quality skate or BMX site. Work is already complete at Coed Bach in Pontarddulais and Melin Mynach in Gorseinon, with a street plaza-style facility at Victoria Park due to begin construction in August.

“We’re really excited about the council investment,” said Kate Leonard. “It will grow Swansea’s skateboarding community and give fans of wheel sports more outlets to burn off energy. Exist will complement the neighbourhood improvements—we don’t see it as competition.”

Designed by skateboarders, for skateboarders

The council has commissioned Curve Studio to lead design and consultation, with input from local riders shaping the character of each site. Improvements are also planned for Mynydd Newydd in Penlan, the Phoenix Centre in Townhill, and future sites in Ynystawe, Gowerton, Bishopston, and Blaenymaes.

“Curve Studio know their stuff,” said Jon Lawton, 20. “These facilities have been designed by skateboarders and influenced by skateboarders. The variety across sites will give people a reason to visit all of them.”

Lawton, who has been skating for eight years, said the investment will help the sport grow and attract visitors from outside the city. He praised the council for listening to feedback and acting on community input.

“When I was younger, I spent two entire summers at Victoria Park. It’s great to see the amazing plans for that location now.”

A long-awaited revival

For Will Muxworthy, 25, the investment marks a turning point after decades of underinvestment.

“There’s been a strong surf and skateboarding scene in Swansea for years, but the facilities haven’t matched that energy since the late 1980s,” he said. “In the past, we had to travel to Bristol or further afield. That’s about to change.”

Muxworthy said the new facilities at Coed Bach and Melin Mynach are already making a difference, and the plans for Victoria Park are especially meaningful to local riders.

“There’s so much potential here. This investment gives Swansea the chance to be at the forefront of skateboarding and other wheel sports.”

More than just skateboarding

The wider wheel sports masterplan includes a new pump track for junior BMXers at Melin Mynach, a refurbishment of the existing track at Clyne Valley, and consultation on cycling and BMX facilities in Blaenymaes and Gowerton. Workshops have already taken place in Ynystawe and Gowerton, with more planned as the programme expands.

Council leader Rob Stewart recently confirmed that the skate park programme will be boosted to £2.9 million by 2027, as part of a wider £10 million investment in outdoor community facilities across Swansea.

“Residents told us they wanted to never be far from good quality skate parks,” said Stewart. “So we are delivering a multi-layered network of facilities that create a stage for inspirational riding and make it easy for anyone to take up wheeled sports in their community.”

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Swansea Bay parks and green spaces recognised among world’s best with Green Flag awards

Keep Wales Tidy has confirmed that Wales now flies more Green Flag Community Awards than any other country worldwide, with a record-breaking 315 sites recognised this year — including 223 community spaces.

Among the winners are six of Swansea’s main parks, including Clyne Gardens, Singleton Botanical Gardens, Brynmill Park, Parc Llewelyn, Cwmdonkin Park and Victoria Park. All are managed by Swansea Council and welcome thousands of visitors annually.

Robert Francis-Davies, Cabinet Member for Investment, Regeneration and Tourism, said: “Our city is blessed with some beautiful parks which we are proud of and work hard to maintain. They all provide a space where families and visitors can relax, have fun and enjoy the outdoors. I’m thrilled that these locations have been recognised on a national level.”

Additional Green Flag Awards have been given to Swansea University Singleton Campus, Penllergare Valley Woods, and Mount Pleasant Hospital, managed by Coastal Housing Group.

Thirteen community-based gardens and green spaces in Swansea also received Green Flag Community Awards, including Friends of Coed Gwilym Park, Pontlliw Park, Swansea Canal, Mayhill Washing Lake & Community Food Garden, Swansea Community Farm and Coedbach Park.

Cllr Francis-Davies added: “It’s great to see a large number of community gardens get recognition for what they offer residents. This is largely down to community groups and volunteers, who take it upon themselves to look after these green spaces and make sure that wherever you live in Swansea, there is certain to be somewhere nearby that families can visit.”

In Neath Port Talbot, a wide range of parks and gardens have also achieved Green Flag status, including Gnoll Estate Country Park, Margam Country Park, Talbot Memorial Park, Victoria Gardens, and Swansea University Bay Campus Grounds.

Community Awards were also given to Amman Valley Trotting Club, Cilybebyll Community Growers, Craig Gwladus Country Park, The Friends and Neighbours Centre, Gardd y Pobl, Sandfields Community Garden, Cwmafan Community Orchard, Glantawe Riverside Park, Vivian Park Nature Garden, and The Lane Community Garden.

A Neath Port Talbot Council spokesperson said: “These awards signify parks and community green spaces which have met very high standards and they represent a reward for outstanding environmental and gardening efforts and the maintenance of excellent visitor facilities. These are awards are due to a great team effort from our dedicated staff and from many hard working, much appreciated volunteers from our local communities.”

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

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Owen Derbyshire, Chief Executive of Keep Wales Tidy, said: “We’re thrilled that green spaces managed by Swansea Council and Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council have once again achieved the prestigious Green Flag status — a true testament to the dedication and hard work of the many staff and volunteers who care for them.”

The Green Flag Award is delivered in Wales by Keep Wales Tidy and supported by Welsh Government. Sites are judged against eight strict criteria, including biodiversity, cleanliness, environmental management and community involvement.

Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies, who holds responsibility for Climate Change, said: “I am very proud that Wales continues to lead the world in community-awarded green flag sites. Our local green spaces play a vital role in connecting us to nature, supporting biodiversity and providing opportunities for healthy recreation.”

A full list of Green Flag and Green Flag Community Award winners for 2025/26 can be found on the Keep Wales Tidy website.

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Swansea Community sports facilities to get £10m boost

Extra investment in the councillor-led Community Investment Fund will see it rise to almost £10m by 2027 for spending on neighbourhood projects that matter to local people.

Under proposals agreed by Cabinet, sports changing places at Cwm Level, Trallwn, Ynystawe, Tir Canol, Blaenymaes and Bonymaen are all set to benefit from funding totalling £3m.

As well as direct support from the council, the funding includes grant aid from a variety of sources and a potential £1m spread over two years from the Cymru Football Foundation.

In addition, the skate parks programme that’s already seen one open at Coed Bach and two more consultations earmarked for Gowerton and Ynystawe, will be boosted to at least £2.9m by 2027. The wheeled sports master plan includes proposals for a roll-out of facilities so that no-one is more than a couple of miles away from their nearest one.

On top of that, councillors will see the Community Investment fund increase by a further £1m so that ward members can invest in a wide range of local assets such as reinstalling woodland paths, extra play equipment and supporting community ventures, to name but a few.

The near-£10m of investment covers the period between 2024/25 and 2026/27.

Rob Stewart, Leader of the Council, said it was further evidence that the council is investing in projects that matter to communities right across the city.

He said: “Coming on top of targeted funding like £8m for play areas across our city, the Community Investment Fund is designed so that no neighbourhood feels left behind or overlooked when it comes to the little things that can make a big difference.

“Residents told us they wanted more play areas that are modern and accessible. So we have delivered more than 60 of them.

“They told us they wanted to never be far from good quality skate parks. So we are delivering a multi-layered network of facilities that create a stage for inspirational riding and make it easy for anyone to take up wheeled sports in their community.

“And they’ve said sports changing facilities need upgrading so they are fit for a modern environment and available to all. So now we are acting on that too.”

He added: “Councillors are uniquely well-placed to know what kind of small-scale projects and initiatives going on in their area deserve a boost from the council.

“By boosting councillors’ community budget schemes to almost £4m in the period between 2024/25 ad 2026/27 we’ll be able to make sure the money goes a long way, making a difference all across Swansea.”

Cllr Stewart said: “The pandemic demonstrated beyond doubt the importance of outdoor facilities to our communities, the wellbeing of young people and families and the value of decent facilities on their doorsteps.

“In the cost of living crisis, we’ve continued to see just how important outdoor facilities have been to groups, families and individuals. It’s resulting in the biggest investment in outdoor community play and sports facilities by the council in more than a generation.”

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