The Hellesdon playground vandalized by Jobs has been reopened

The yard at Hellesdon Recreation Ground has been closed after a yob climbed onto a table tennis table and pushed on it until it collapsed and disintegrated last month.

The play area, which was created as part of a crackdown on anti-social behavior in the park, had been closed since then while police launched an investigation into the incident.

But the area has reopened in recent days with a new table tennis table ordered to replace the damaged one.

Hellesdon Parish Council chairman Shelagh Gurney said: “The parish has ordered a new table tennis table to replace the existing one”.

He said that “as soon as it arrives, it will be installed.”

Ms Gurney said she hoped young people in the area would “respect” the area and its facilities.

He said he was “quite shocked” by the damage to the area and its subsequent closure, which had “deprived a lot of young people” in the area who “have not been able to use it”.

The equipment installed in the yard was the result of conversations he and other members of the parish council had had with the youth of the area.

Mrs Gurney said: “I spent a few days going out and talking to young people, asking them what they wanted and that’s what they asked for and that’s what they got.”

The Yard was established in 2021 to provide older children with a place to play after reports of teenagers hijacking a community play area and threatening younger children.

It came after a series of incidents of vandalism and anti-social behavior at the recreation area, with a youth center burning down and young children being cursed.