LONDON.- The new playgrounds, co-commissioned by Create London and the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham, have transformed Parsloes Park into a colourful play haven to encourage children and young people to climb, hang out and play sport.

With his signature use of vibrant colours and geometric patterns, the British-Nigerian designer Yinka Ilori has repurposed parts of an out-of-use playground to create The Flamboyance of Flamingos. The design imagines collaborative play for children of all ages, including the reintroduction of pink flamingos – who once inhabited the park – in the form of bouncy spring rockers and a circular seating area. A new basketball court is also introduced along with abstract structures to encourage alternative forms of play. Combining off-the-shelf play equipment with customised designs, these unique structures open possibilities for expanding the imaginations of children and adults alike.

Yinka Ilori said: “I am incredibly honoured to be part of such a special project that I can see means a lot to the community of Barking and Dagenham. The area has such a rich heritage and culture and to have the opportunity to be a part of it and celebrate it through the playground is a blessing. I really hope this playground becomes part of the Becontree Estate's legacy and that play continues to be a part of local residents' lives.”

Only a short distance away, the Irish sculptor Eva Rothschild has created a playground that caters to the abilities of older children, offering opportunities to stretch their physical capabilities. Part sculpture, part climbing frame, the two pyramid-shaped structures are constructed from geometric cubes, employing striking colours that draw upon Rothschild’s own palette with inspiration from the Italian, postmodern design group Memphis. This is completed by a slide for younger children and framed by new seating.

Eva Rothschild said: ‘Sculpture as a playground should be activated through the body, through movement, irreverence, imagination and joy.’

Co-commissioned by Create London and the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham, the two new artistic and community markers are part of the council’s wider improvement to Parsloes Park, developing new infrastructure to support physical and recreational well-being for everyone to enjoy. The playgrounds extend arts organisation Create London’s decade-long community engagement in the borough, including the establishment and running of community arts space The White House.

Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Community Leadership and Housing at Barking and Dagenham Council, Cllr Saima Ashraf said: “Here in Barking and Dagenham - a borough steeped in history, the Becontree estate is a major part of our heritage. Celebrating the centenary last year of the first homes being built on the Becontree was a momentous occasion for the community.

Part of our programme included these wonderful, commissioned playgrounds, which formed part of our wider improvement for Parsloes Park to have a dedicated space for young people to enjoy and play.

“I want to thank Yinka and Eva for their vision and for creating not only beautiful structures but engaging places for local people to use. And I’d also like to thank Create London for their work alongside the artists.”

Marie Bak Mortensen, Director, Create London said: “The ingenuity and sculptural qualities of these playgrounds truly encapsulates the belief that play can be the highest form of artistic research. I hope they inspire future commissioners of playgrounds to connect the creativity of world-class artists and designers with public spaces to enrich the lives of children and young people as seen in Barking & Dagenham.”

The two playgrounds are funded by the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham through Strategic Community Infrastructure Levy and part of the council’s Becontree Forever programme.