GLADSTONE Gardens now boasts the biggest ‘outdoor active zone’ in Britain after major refurbishment work.

The park in Buttrills Road is the latest to be revamped as part of a widespread park improvement project across the county.

A new state-of-the-art outdoor gym – the outdoor active zone in question – offers adults and children the chance to try new fitness programmes.

Work at Gladstone Gardens included an upgrade to the play area, tennis courts and the walls around the park.

Vale council leader and cabinet member for performance and resources, Cllr John Thomas said: “We are committed to promoting a healthy, active lifestyle and having top-quality outdoor spaces for residents to enjoy is key to that aim.

“I’m confident the community will be delighted with the upgraded facilities on offer.

“The park now has the largest active outdoor zone in Britain so there is plenty to keep people occupied when they visit.”

Neil Pigdon of Sunshine Play, which designed the gym, said: “Gladstone Gardens is the largest Outdoor Active Zone of its kind in the UK.

“The equipment which is manufactured by Kompan is strong and durable and includes a state-of-the-art smartphone app.

“It is a great success with various groups actively using the facility either on their own or in structured groups.

“It has been well thought out and the results speak for themselves.”

Following a public consultation, it was recognised that many aspects of the park required upgrading and refurbishment work began in the autumn of 2016.

Members of Barry Youth Action ran sessions with pupils in Ysgol Sant Curig and Gladstone Primary school, along with youth service colleagues and council officers.

Barry Youth Action member Eleri Borges, 16, said: “Improving Gladstone Gardens was one of the first issues that we brought up as a group. We wrote to the Vale of Glamorgan Council who said they had funding to help us.

“We held our own consultation in schools, as a lot of them are close enough and use the park a lot in the summer.

“We wanted to ask them what they wanted to see in the park, and now the place is always busy.”

Some further work beginning next month will focus on footpaths, trees, planting spring bulbs, cleaning the pond and new seating areas.

The works is expected to last 12 weeks and parts of the park will be closed temporarily.