A RUTHIN playground that faced closure three years ago is set to reopen next month, after the community funded a refurbishment of the site.

Star Park, a non-council owned play area located at the Memorial Playing Grounds in Cae Seren, was scheduled for closure back in January 2020 after falling into disrepair.

In response, a group of residents from the community decided to get together to prevent this from happening.

Over the next three years, they raised more than £76,000 in an effort to refurbish the site and help protect its value to children and parents.

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The site has undergone significant changes thanks to the voluntary work of passionate residents, whose campaigning and fundraising efforts have not been in vain.

The site is now set to fully reopen on Friday, 9 June, the group having overcome sveral ‘ups and downs’ in that time, including the Covid-19 pandemic and the cost of living crisis.

Ruthin Mayor Anne Roberts said the group had done a ‘wonderful’ job.

She told the Denbighshire Free Press: “They’ve done wonders, they have achieved what they set out to do and it’s a wonderful tribute to them.”

The residents involved also won the Town Council’s Group of the Year award for their work in protecting the playground.

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A spokesperson for the group said via social media that the project was for “every child in Ruthin”, adding: “We started this project in January 2020 with no idea that Covid and a cost of living crisis was just around the corner.

“It has been a long 3 years to get the park to this point.

“There will going forward always be costs involved, maintenance, insurance, inspections etc.

“Please remember the park would have closed indefinitely three years ago and be kind before you complain as this is run by volunteers.

“We took this project on so that every child in Ruthin and surrounding areas didn’t lose out on a safe, fun park.

“Thank you so much to everyone who has donated so far.”

Ruthin Councillor Bobby Feeley said she the site had been ‘revitalised’, adding: “I’m delighted that it’s managed to be recovered and over the years we’ve had lots of ups and downs where things have been in disrepair.

“They’ve revitalised it and made it for opening, they’ve done a great job.

"We hear a lot about wellbeing these days and getting outside, it couldn’t be a better time to bring this park back to life – I couldn’t be more delighted.”