A group of ‘on the ball’ youngsters successfully applied to the Triton Knoll Community Fund to enhance their park.
Flinders Founders was set up in 2006 to make the large village of Donington in Lincolnshire a better place for young people, and the Teen Park they created has been a game changer for the area.
With the support of Margaret Wright who acts as company secretary, the voluntary community youth group which is run by 11 – 19-year-olds, applied to the fund to create a much-needed goal area and received a grant of £12,788.40.
Already an impressive facility, it has eight ramps and two grind rails in the skate area, a BMX track and eight outdoor gym stations along with an entrance arch and bridge, gardens, bird boxes, bug house and picnic tables.
According to Margaret, the young members work hard to make the park attractive. “They care for it by doing litter picks and gardening,” she said. “However, they thought it was desperately missing a goal area which would encourage more visitors.”
The new multi-purpose goal end has a soccer net, basketball ring and cricket wickets and Margaret says it’s been a brilliant addition. “I don’t think I’ve ever walked past without seeing a young person using it, apart from during school hours of course.
“Triton Knoll has been an absolute boon to the area,” she added.
Fourteen-year-old Charlie Mann, Chair of Flinders Founders, said: “The goal area is a huge improvement to the Teen Park. Everyone loves it and it has been used greatly.”
Libby Wain, who is thirteen and site manager of the park, said: “I think the goal end has made a big change to the Teen Park. It means people who don’t like the skate area can do things like shooting penalties and basketball goals. Girls use it as well as shooting practise for netball.”