Carlisle's biggest and most popular play park reopens to the public tomorrow.

More than £200,000 has been spent replacing and improving equipment at the Bitts Park site after it was submerged under 8ft of water in last December's floods.

The contaminated floodwater water caused extensive damage to the mechanical and electrical components of the play equipment, including the water splash feature.

The safety matting was lifted and damaged.

Following lengthy insurance negotiations, Carlisle City Council was able to start work this summer.

Equipment has been installed and the layout now includes flood resilient measures.

It is predominantly of steel frame construction, with panel work and floors that are easily washed down.

The equipment is also mostly of modular construction, allowing moving parts or contaminated parts to be easily replaced.

The new equipment includes:

For infants (up to 6)

  • Multi-unit including wide stairs and slide for parent/carer access alongside child and ground level play panels
  • Swings with two cradle seats
  • Seesaw with bench seats and inclusive back/foot rests
  • Mini-car for role-play
  • Spinner bowl
  • Hammock with inclusive wide net
  • Ground level play panels, including music panel
  • Swings with fully wheelchair accessible platform plus one cradle and one flat seat
  • Trampoline, fully wheelchair accessible

For juniors (6-15)

  • Sky cabin including two slides
  • Swings with basket seat and two flat seats
  • Multi spinner carousel
  • Track ride
  • Splash Park (all ages)
  • Jets, misters and arches
  • Sand Pit (all ages)
  • Multi-unit including sand scoops and tunnels
  • Two sand diggers

The interactive water feature has also been reinstated and will operate from Easter next year.

Eighty-eight children from flood-hit Crosby-on-Eden School and youngsters from James Rennie in Carlisle will try out the equipment today ahead of the tomorrow's opening to the public.