WOULD-BE vandals have been told they won’t wreck local community spirit after an attempt was made to damage a brand-new play park.

Last Thursday, September 8, vandals targeted Llanyre Play Park – which was only renovated with sparkling new equipment in May after a community crowdfunder led to organisers being handed a £60,000 lottery grant to realise their dream.

The parents behind the project say the park is being “incredibly well used” and is “receiving such positive comments”, and they are determined they won’t let this recent setback undo all the fantastic work that was done to turn the play park dream into a reality.

“We'd describe what happened as mischief or antisocial behaviour but volunteers quickly cleaned up the park and put it back to all its glory,” said one parent.

“Thankfully, we were able to clean everything up and they did not succeed in causing anything that will involve a cost.

“The park is being incredibly well used and is receiving such positive comments. It's pretty stunning for a village park.”

County Times: Llanyre Play Park.

Llanyre Play Park.

The message is far more positive than when the damage was first discovered last week, with the vandals targeting the play park sometime after 6pm on Thursday.

Parents said there would be an increased police presence at the park as well as community patrols in Llanyre, which is just outside Llandrindod Wells. If anyone witnesses any antisocial behaviour they are advised to call Dyfed Powys Police’s non-emergency number, 101.

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“A wonderful group of volunteers also got together to reopen our adjacent village toilets and are doing a fantastic job,” said a spokesperson.

“They should receive applause and thanks when they close up at night, not challenge or abuse.

“Those who love and respect our park as much as we do will always be very welcome. There is a donation box to show appreciation.”

The dream to regenerate Llanyre Play Park was made a reality thanks to the National Lottery Community Fund, who boosted the coffers with a substantial injection of £67,461 in May. In total, fundraisers announced they had raised more than £120,000 since they began a crowdfunder in August 2020 to revamp the children’s play area, which had fallen into a dilapidated state and rendered equipment unsafe in recent years.

Mums Hollie Smith and Jenna Smith had initially set themselves a hopeful target of £30,000.

They closed the initial gofundme page in December 2020 after managing to raise £7,000 – with plans to use that to approach play park contractors in the New Year and put it towards one or two items to enhance the play area.

However, the lottery grant meant they could initiate a total overhaul of the facilities.