New splash park and mini-wheels track open at Hinksey Park

The new water play area was officially opened on Friday 4 April with five-year-old Felix from St Ebbe‘s Primary School pressing the activation button to start the play fountains and jets for the first time. 

The splash park is free to use and will be open every day until the end of the summer. Alongside the splash play area is a 'learn and play' balance bike and scooter track designed for younger children. The track can be enjoyed all year round, even during colder months, when the splash area is not in use. 

The £330,000 project was funded by a £100,000 grant from FCC Communities Foundation, with the remaining investment provided by Oxford City Council.  

Work to redevelop the former water play area – a long-standing and popular feature of Hinksey Park - began in September 2024, after the previous equipment had deteriorated due to age. The new facility has been designed to be safe, fun and sustainable, with a range of interactive features and improvements to optimise water usage.  

Hinksey Park is located off Abingdon Road, and also includes a large outdoor swimming pool, play area, tennis courts, a lake and open green spaces.  

For more information about Hinksey Park and its facilities, please visit our website. 

"We’re pleased to be able to provide this free leisure facility for families in Oxford. Water play has been part of Hinksey Park since the 1960s, and the new splash park continues that tradition with a modern, sustainable design. The addition of a mini-wheels track means there’s something for children to enjoy all year round. We’re proud to invest in our local community and play areas to support local communities and outdoor play."  

Jane Winfield, Director of Property and Assets, Oxford City Council 

“We are delighted to have worked with the City Council to fund this project for the local community to enjoy. It’s great to see it now open and available for use, just in time for the Easter School holidays. Thank you to everyone who has worked so hard on this project.” 

Cheryl Raynor, FCC Community Foundations grant manager  

For more information about FCC Communities Foundation funding, visit https://fcccommunitiesfoundation.org.uk/