Volunteers aiming to raise £20,000 towards replacing new playground equipment torched and destroyed by arsonists have received a major boost.
Council officers have today confirmed that the climbing boulders which were destroyed by mindless vandals in Armley Park almost a week ago ARE covered by insurance and can be replaced.
Earlier this week WLD reported that the Friends of Armley and Gotts Park group had launched a £20k crowdfunder to replace the destroyed equipment in the new playground area, which only opened in March.
Today’s developments welcomed by Armley councillor and Friends member Lou Cunningham.
She said: “We are very thankful of this. We have discussed the crowdfunder with them and the Friends of Armley and Gotts Park group. The donations from this – for which we are very grateful – will be used for the landscaping work which needs to be done. The crowdfunder amount will be amended to reflect this.
“Thank you to everyone who has offered support, financially, physically and through your kind words and efforts.
“Our community will not give up! We deserve decent things. Let’s keep on sticking together.”
The arson attack also damaged the soft surfacing around the climbing boulders. A swing was also vandalised, a mini roundabout burnt and a tree was snapped during the incident late last Friday night (September 30).
The crowdfunder has so far raised almost £2,000 in only a few days. You can still donate to the appeal here.
Armley Park boasts a zip wire, swings, roundabout, climbing boulders, slide, wheelchair-accessible equipment and is on different levels to add interest.
