Government will pump some $50,000 into new swings and other equipment for the playground at Parson's Road in Pembroke.

Acting Works and Engineering Minister Grant Gibbons yesterday told The Royal Gazette the investment was part of a Department of Parks plan to take over the facility.

The Pembroke Parish Council, which ran the old playground, was forced to close it earlier this month due to a lack of funds.

A formal complaint had been lodged about the poor state of the equipment and bathrooms in the playground and the Health Department suggested it be closed until money was found for repairs.

Acting chairman of the council Alpheaus Black said he wanted to see Government give the back-of-town playground the same type of treatment as playgrounds in other areas of the Island.

"Government, if you look at the east end, has gone in and put all kinds of nice equipment in all the playgrounds,'' Mr. Black said. "So I would like to see Government do likewise for us.'' Dr. Gibbons yesterday confirmed that Government was committed to making "Parson's Road playground comparable to what is in place at Warwick Long Bay and Mullet Bay''.

"They (the Parks Department) have taken out some of the damaged pieces of equipment and they will be bringing it up to the same standards as playgrounds at Warwick Long Bay and Mullet Bay,'' he said.

"But first they have to remove the equipment and some abandoned cars in the area have to be removed. There has to be site preparation, including a clean-up. And they want to get input from the community.'' Dr. Gibbons said park rangers will also be patrolling the playground.

Welcoming such news, Mr. Black said: "That's a good thing to do because they need such a facility in this area. Years ago there were birthday parties and families would come down with their children.

"This is definitely good news because that's an area that is always used.

People come from as far away as Devonshire and Spanish Point, blacks and whites.'' Julia Dears, matron of the Pembroke Parish Home which is located opposite the playground, said: "It is important for this area to have that facility. Now that that has been settled perhaps the needs of the rest home can be better met.'' NOT ABANDONED -- The old playground at Parson's Road in Pembroke.