Victoria Park Masterplan

We're pleased to share that Victoria Park's newly improved play area is now open and ready to enjoy.

Following the successful completion of an independent safety inspection, we've opened the play area so that local families can make the most of the new facilities throughout the summer holidays.

Over recent months, the play area has undergone significant improvements. Enhancements include a new accessible play deck, inclusive play equipment, new swings, an enhanced toddler play area, improved pathways through the play space, and new seating and picnic benches around the popular Splash Pad.

The improvements have been delivered as part of the Victoria Park Masterplan, which was developed following consultation with local residents and park users about priorities for the future of one of Haywards Heath's most valued green spaces.

You may notice some temporary fencing around newly seeded areas within the play space. This has been put in place to allow the grass to establish following construction works and help reduce muddy areas. We kindly ask visitors to avoid these areas while the new grass grows.

Work to improve access from South Road is continuing and will be completed as part of the wider project. This element of the scheme has taken longer than anticipated due to the need to relocate a sewer before the new accessible entrance into the park can be completed. In the meantime, the park remains accessible via five entrances, four of which have step-free access. We will continue to keep this Engagement Hub page updated with progress on the South Road works.

Thank you to everyone for their patience and support throughout these improvements. We know how important Victoria Park is to the local community and look forward to seeing families enjoy the new facilities for many years to come.

As we shared last month, work at the new accessible South Road entrance has been more complex than expected. We needed to relocate a sewer and carefully protect the roots of the mature oak trees nearby, which meant pausing work on the playground for a short time so machinery could safely reach this part of the site.

Since then, we have been working closely with arboricultural specialists, engineers and our contractor to agree a solution for the new South Road ramp that maintains accessibility while minimising any impact on the oak tree roots.

This has had a knock-on effect on the playground because construction vehicles need to pass through that area to reach the ramp works. Other access options were considered, but they would have caused more damage to the wider park and increased costs.

We are pleased to say that a solution has now been agreed, and work has started on the ramp between the two mature oak trees on South Road.

This means work on the play area is now restarting, with the playground currently on track to open at the end of July. The South Road entrance will take a little longer due to the complexity, but we will continue to keep resident's update.

Thank you to local residents and businesses for your continued patience and support while this work is completed. We know how important these improvements are to the community and look forward to opening the new play area as soon as possible. We will share a further update at the beginning of July.

Work is progressing on improvements to access and the play area at Victoria Park. This includes more accessible play equipment and a refreshed layout, and new seating and picnic benches for the Splash Pad.

The redevelopment is going well, but we’ve uncovered an unexpected issue with a drain while rebuilding the steps, in an area close to a mature oak tree that needs protecting. We’re working with Southern Water to resolve this; however, this has meant the programme is taking longer than planned. Although it may look quiet on site at times, planning and coordination are continuing so we can complete the remaining works as soon as possible.

To manage expectations, the play park and Splash Pad will not reopen by May Half Term, and we will provide a further update in June on what’s happening and a revised timeline as soon as we have confirmed it.

Accessible entrance from South Road

We’ve received a few questions from residents about the steps and access. The park will have an accessible entrance, and handrails will be installed on the steps. The steps are made from a non-slip stone, and a new ramp with a gentle gradient will be created, for wheelchairs and push chairs.

Works have progressed in the play area with the installation of more play equipment, boulders, and tree planting. The new concrete seat wall around the splash pad has been poured which will provide lots of seating for parents whilst their children play.

We carefully removed the old gym equipment to lay new surfacing with a view to reinstalling it but found it to be in poor condition. The decision was made to remove the outdoor gym equipment entirely. The area has been reinstated to grass to provide a welcoming entrance.

Progress on the works near South Road remains on pause while final details are agreed with Southern Water regarding a manhole within the construction area. Work continues behind the scenes to keep this moving.

Our contractor is working closely with us to ensure minimal impact on the upcoming events in the park, whilst still progressing the improvements.

Over the past month, we have experienced above average seasonal rainfall. This has resulted in saturated ground conditions, which have slowed progress on site.

Despite this, works to the play area have progressed well. Installation of the play equipment has begun, and the sub‑base for the new surfacing has now been laid.

The old seating area on South Road has also been removed to make way for the new wide steps. These will open up the entrance to the park and create a more welcoming approach.

Over the past month, work on the site has continued where possible, despite winter weather, and periods of heavy rainfall.

The old, steep ramp and steps have now been removed and replaced with new granite steps. The new staircase is wider and will include handrails on both sides, as well as a central handrail, making it more comfortable and easier for people to use.