Skegness remains a firm favourite with families from Nottinghamshire and a new attraction is set to open next year to draw in visitors. It's being billed as 'the most exciting playground in the UK' and will be a feature of popular holiday camp Butlin's.
The East Coast resort will open its newest attraction, named Skypark, in time for the 2023 Easter break. Butlin’s has announced plans to open a major new playpark at its Skegness resort next year as part of a £2.5m investment.
Described as "the most exciting playground in the UK where everyone can play in the sky, day and night," Skypark will offer children of all ages and abilities the chance to play together. It will be free to access and included in the price of the holiday, the park will also feature the UK's longest seesaw, reports Lincolnshire Live.
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Alongside Skypark will be a new café and outdoor terrace, serving drinks and light snacks. The new playground and cafe will cost £2.5million with Skypark being designed for children up to 12-year-olds, although everyone can get involved with plenty of family play options available.
Children will enter the playground through The Heart Line – a playful pathway that pulses with light – and discover six zones that celebrate positive play emotions: Joy, Calm, Excitement, Happiness, Surprise, Curiosity. In the various discovery zones, every child can experience height and children of all abilities will be able to play together.
Epic climbing towers, thrilling tunnel slides and interactive play fill Skypark’s zones. At the heart of the playground is the 'Tower of Excitement,' standing 14 metres tall, providing a panoramic sea-view and an illuminated 10-metre slide. Skypark will also be home to the UK’s longest seesaw at 24-metres-long, which lights up the more you play as a team.
Simon Cope, commercial and marketing director at Butlin’s, said: “Our new Skypark is going to be incredible - It’s a fantastic addition to our Skegness resort and has been purpose-built with inclusion in mind. As the home of entertainment, we offer fun for the whole family, with so much included in the price.
“Skypark will be free to access along with all our amazing live shows, free flow entry to our Splash Waterworld pool and unlimited fairground rides. We’re counting down the days and can’t wait for families to enjoy the best playground in the UK - day and night!”
With sensory surprises, interactive games and wheelchair-friendly equipment, everyone can be shoulder to shoulder in the heart of the action. Skypark will feature a wheelchair-accessible trampoline and roundabout; basket and sit-up swings for support and sociability; sensory surprises through light, sound and colour; and wide, wheelchair-friendly walkways and ramps.
Here are all the zones that will be included in the new Skypark:
The Heart Line (All ages)
Wow factor: Looping pathway that pulses with light
Children navigate the playground through this red pathway, celebrating positive play emotions. Along the way, there is a challenging balancing course, a series of swings and a giant angled carousel – great fun for all the family.
Joy – Yellow (Under 5s)
Wow factor: Mini tower with mirrored mosaic roof
This bright and playful area has been designed for tots - the mini-Tower of Joy gives toddlers a unique sensory experience through the domed mirror ceiling, three slides and climbing elements. There are also fun, interactive, memory-based games and a mini version of the Heart Line with toddler swings.
Excitement – Red (6-12s)
Wow factor: 14-metre tower with light-up tunnel slide
In the heart of SKYPARK stands the Tower of Excitement at a whopping 14 metres high. As young explorers conquer the most thrilling climbing challenge, they’ll be rewarded with a panoramic sea-view.
Even more impressive is the 10-metre tube slide that lights up when children speed down it. Wheelchair access has been built into the 1-metre mound which places all children in the heart of the space, at an impressive height incorporating playful features for all and bridging to the Tower of Surprise - the mound includes large sliding poles, a double-width slide and scrambling routes to the tower.
Happiness – Orange (6-12s)
Wow factor: 10-metre tower with geometric climbing nets
The Tower of Happiness is over 10 metres high and includes a labyrinth of geometric climbing nets and an 8-metre tube slide. There’s also a tunnel over to the Tower of Excitement.
Surprise – Blue (6-12s)
Wow factor: 8-metre tower with hidden sensory surprises
The Tower of Surprise ensures that no child is left out of the fun. At just under 9-metres tall, it acts an introduction to climbing and height, and gives wheelchair users a unique perspective from an accessible platform. There are hidden sensory surprises to discover at each level.
Calm – Purple (All ages)
Wow factor: Sound and light posts
The purple zone offers gentle play experiences for when a little relief from the high activity is needed. The Tower of Calm features wind-up light posts, calming sounds and music, while the large wheelchair-accessible roundabout builds on the sensory aspect of this area. A space for all the family to enjoy together.
Curious – Green (All ages)
Wow factor: UK’s largest light-up interactive seesaw
Home to the UK’s longest seesaw at 24-metres-long - kids and grown-ups can work together to rock the seesaw, generating energy to light up the Heart Line – which pulses to the rhythm of the rocking. You’ll also find interactive movement-based games.
