Friends of Endcliffe Playground have worked tirelessly for three years to raise the funds to create a wonderful new playground in Endcliffe Park. The Friends have given endless 'free' time to organise public awareness events, research fun equipment and educational elements for the playground, carry out a detailed public consultation exercise embracing children of all ages and working with families of children with special needs to make sure there is fun and challenge for all in the new playground. Endless grant applications have been completed, we have mounted a successful internet fundraising scheme and lobbied for Section 106 funding and in total we have raised just short of £300,000.

Most of this work has been carried out by a core group of 10 enthusiastic and committed people. 250 others have joined the Friends' scheme and made donations from £1 to £5,000 to support our efforts and we have sent them a monthly e-bulletin and a twice yearly newsletter to keep them up to date with progress.

Why is it then that some people who choose not to help with such a Herculean, community effort suddenly find enough energy to complain when they are mildly inconvenienced? Regular users of the Park have been given every opportunity to engage with the work of the Friends group - there have been displays and comments boxes in the Cafe for the past three years inviting people to keep informed and get involved.

We know the timing isn't perfect. We had hoped that work would begin in May and be finished by the start of the summer holidays but the tender process inevitably took longer than anticipated. The Friends group did not want to wait another nine months for work to start - we have volunteered so much of our time and energy to this project already.

What's more, the work can be completed more quickly in the relatively dry summer months. Three months without a playground is a small price for "A parent in Fulwood" to pay for a fantastic new playground featuring a big climbing boulder, a tall climbing tower and curly slide, a space age climbing frame, five different types of swings for children of all ages and abilities, a see-saw, two roundabouts (one of which accommodates children and adults in wheelchairs), a toddler climbing frame and slide, picnic tables, comfortable benches, artist designed educational elements including a human sundial and brass rubbings and an artist designed front boundary.

To those who have not been involved it is short-term pain for long-term gain and let's face it, we as a community, are so privileged to have such a fantastic resource as the Porter Valley sequence of parks on our doorstep. If the complainers fired-up their imaginations and looked around them they would see what wonderful opportunities Endcliffe Park offers even without the playground. Take your football, bat and ball, frisbee, skipping rope, picnic blanket, bike, trike, scooter or kite down to the park – it won't cost a penny and you can really enjoy the vast expanse of open grass. You'll also be able to keep tabs on progress in the playground by peering through the fence. Cross over the stepping stones and make leaf boats out of laurel leaves and twigs and sail them down the river. Climb up into the ancient woodland and hunt for mini-beasts; bring some wax crayons and paper with you and make leaf and bark rubbings. I would say that a tatty old playground with dilapidated equipment is no substitute for active and imaginative parenting.

But, if you would rather sit down and watch your children play than join in with them, then come to the park between 1pm and 3pm on a Tuesday or Thursday when Activity Sheffield bring their sports vans. Our wonderful Park Rangers are organising a "range" of events including "Pirates of the Porter Valley" and a traditional games day. Check out what's on offer at http://www.sheffield.gov.uk/out--about/parks-woodlands--countryside/ranger-service

We are deeply grateful to Ashley Charlesworth and his team at the Park Cafe for their efforts in providing activities for families with young children - Ash has been a fantastic support to us throughout our long campaign. Now's the time to show our appreciation of all he has done for our community and support his business whilst the playground is closed. And now is the time for us to use our energy in having fun with our children using the rich natural resources around us, instead of moaning. Oh, and if you still crave traditional equipment then Chelsea Park, Spider Park and Forge Dam playgrounds aren't that far away!

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