Here comes a fun-packed summer in the Vale
Published 7 May 2024
As May gets underway, Vale of White Horse District Council is gearing up for a summer of family-friendly free and low-cost activities and destinations to visit.
Over the summer months, the council’s Active Communities Team will be offering a range of activities to get involved in, including community walks and skateboarding.
Find out more here on the Active Communities webpage and by following the team’s Facebook page.
For families looking to get out and about, there are many beautiful parks and gardens in the Vale with great play areas and space to play games.
Work is well underway to get the splash pads in the Vale ready for the summer season. The pads in Abbey Meadow in Abingdon and Wantage Memorial Gardens are both set to open on Saturday 25 May in time for the May half-term.
Abbey Meadow splash pad, looked after by Better UK on behalf of the council, will be on from 9am to 6pm each day.
The kiosk at Abbey Meadow will also open that weekend and will open at the weekends until the outdoor pool opens for the most popular months of the year during the summer holidays on Saturday 20 July. The kiosk, splash pads and pool will then be available for visitors to use every day over the summer holidays through to early September.
The splash pad at Wantage Memorial Gardens, which is looked after by the council’s parks team, will be available to use daily from 10.30am to 7pm.
At leisure centres – White Horse Leisure and Tennis Centre in Abingdon, Faringdon Leisure Centre and Wantage Leisure Centre there are plenty of fun activities during the May half-term and over the summer, including tennis, family fun swims and soft play. Search for activities here.
There will be classes, shows and entertainment to look forward to at the Beacon Community and Arts Centre in Wantage – with something for all ages, including the Let’s All Dance Ballet: Goldilocks in July.
Cllr Lucy Edwards, Cabinet Member for Communications said: “As we leave the cold, dark months behind us and start to eagerly anticipate the summer, we are busy preparing our parks, playgrounds, splash pads and other facilities. There is so much to enjoy in our beautiful district! Our Active Communities team will be running a wide variety of weekly activities for all ages and abilities. There are plenty of activities on offer at our leisure centres and our arts centre.
“It’s always great to see how much enjoyment children and families get from the splash pad at Abbey Meadow and at the Wantage Memorial Gardens. Combined with the outdoor pool and the kiosk, we’re proud that we can provide local residents with such a fantastic way to spend their summer holidays.
“With the financial pressures facing many councils at the moment and the pressures many families experience especially over the holidays, I’m so pleased we’re able to continue to offer such a wide range of free and low-cost facilities and activities. Summer in the Vale is well and truly on its way!”
Cllr Mark Coleman, Cabinet Member for Environmental Services and Waste said: “Our parks team does a great job throughout the year maintaining our parks and play areas for everyone to enjoy. We love to see so many families having fun in our open spaces over the summer months. We just need the sunshine to join us now!”
Check back during the coming weeks for more activity updates: www.southandvale.gov.uk/south-and-vale-holiday-activities
