HEARTBROKEN tears were replaced with smiles of joy at the reopening of the Lido’s new play area following a devastating arson attack.
Children ran onto the recently replaced park for first time in a month last Friday (August 8).
The playground, which was burnt down back in July, was estimated to cost around £23,000 to replace.
Days after the fire Spatan Matt Nicol, with his colleagues at Nicol and Co Estate Agents, set up a just giving page.
In 28 days they managed to collect £18,025 from a number of generous companies, parents and grandparents in the town.
A crew from Droitwich Spa Fire Station, who originally attended the fire, also helped out by organising a charity car wash and assisting with the clean up of the site – lowering the overall cost and enabling work to start more quickly.
The new palace fortress has been put in with a rubber wet pour surface – additional items in the shape of two picnic benches, a see saw and van sprinter are also due to be added very soon.
Watch Commander Chris Jelfs, from Droitwich Spa Fire Station, said: “The fire station is apart of the town’s community – we all live in Droitwich – so when we heard Matt had started fund-raising we looked to see if we could leaned any assistance.”
Matt added: “I am absolutely delighted, it seems to be very well received – as soon as it was opened the kids rushed onto it.
“Its nice to see the children and so many of them playing on the new equipment.
“I would like to say a massive thank-you to everyone who has donated to the fund-raising page including some companies which have made some very significant donations.
“I hope the children enjoy it for many years to come.”
