A £140,000 natural play space has opened at Hengrove Play Park in south Bristol.

The one-acre Play Garden of Hengrove features raised mounds with paths and bridges, new slides, climbing equipment and an amphitheatre for live performances, funded by the Department of Children, Schools and Families’ Play Pathfinder strategy.

Cllr Gary Hopkins, cabinet member for environment and community safety, said: “Hengrove Play Park is one of southwest’s most popular, attracting over 100,000 visitors every year. It’s free and great fun for children, young people and families.

“Thanks to Play Pathfinder funding, we have been able to create a new, natural play garden, which gives another exciting element. This new space will encourage creative and challenging play within a natural setting.”

The children’s play park is one part of the extensive Hengrove Park regeneration project currently underway to provide the city with a new Healthplex leisure centre, a Skills Academy and a Community Hospital.

Bristol City Council recently announced that construction of the £21m leisure centre will open several months later than anticipated owing to the impact of the recession.

Cllr Simon Cook, cabinet member for sports, culture and capital projects, explained: “The global downturn is kicking in. As a result, there will be some delay to the start of work on site and the projected date for the opening of the leisure centre is being revised and will probably have to be put back.”

On completion it will provide the community with a ten-lane, 50-metre swimming pool and a learner pool, a spa pool and a steam room, as well as a health and fitness suite equipped with 150 work stations and a free weights area, an aerobics studio and a four-court sports hall.