FAMILIES across Oxford will get the chance to have their say on designs to improve more than 50 crumbling play areas.

Earlier this year, Oxford City Council announced it would spend £2.5m refurbishing 52 run-down play parks across the city.

The council also plans to build four new play areas over the next two years.

Families in Blackbird Leys will tomorrow become the first to be asked what equipment they want to see, when they attend a consultation event organised by the contractor Groundwork Thames Valley.

The charity has appealed for children and young people to tell them face-to-face what improvements they want made at the play area in Cuddesdon Way.

A similar event will run on Saturday at Gillians Park, close to Chaffinch Walk, Greater Leys.

Both play areas were judged to be in poor condition when inspected by council officers.

The city council has set aside £100,000 to spruce up the Cuddesdon Way play area and £50,000 for Gillians Park.

Groundwork’s project manager Jamie Murray said: “This is a really exciting opportunity which will give the young people of Oxford the chance to get involved in the design of their new play areas.

“The consultation events are a great opportunity for residents to put their suggestions across – our designers need to understand what the children want to have in their parks.”

Dozens more consultation events are set to be held across Oxford over the next two years, enabling families to influence the design of their local park.

City council parks manager Stuart Fitzsimmons said: “We would encourage young people to take part in these consultation events as they are the ones who will use the facilities the most.”

Zara Taylor, 23, from Hundred Acres Close in Headington, whose children use the play area in Cuddesdon Way twice a week after attending the Cuddesdon Corner family centre, said: “I think it’s really good they’re going to listen to the children and ask what they want before they build anything.

“The play area needs improving — it needs more equipment for younger children because there isn’t really a lot for them to do.

“The play area’s pretty old and it needs updating.”

Miss Taylor said she would like to see more baby swings and climbing frames for younger children.

The consultation for Cuddesdon Way park will take place in the play area tomorrow from 3pm until 7pm.

The consultation for the Gillians Park play area will take place on Saturday from 10am to 2pm.