A new high-tech interactive play area has opened in Wokingham, the council has announced. 

The £450,000 facility, which opened in Cantley Park on Friday, aims to make playing outside “as compelling as video games.” 

The interactive facilities, which have replaced the old equipment near the park’s tennis courts, include a DJ booth, dance arch, play pillars and games wall. 

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Deputy executive member for environment and leisure, Councillor Michael Firmager, said: “We’re delighted to be opening this exciting new play area. 

“As part of our wider commitment to enriching residents’ lives […] we want our children and young people to have spaces to play and be active outside.” 

The project has been designed in partnership with Jupiter Play, with the aim of appealing to children of all ages, including teenagers. The equipment is laid out in zones for different age groups to allow all ages to use the equipment. 

The managing director of Jupiter Play, Michael Hoenigmann, said: “Cantley Park has been a really interesting project to work on.  

“It combines the most innovative interactive play equipment with some signature traditional play pieces that will offer excitement, challenge and variety to the local community.” 

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Despite taking longer to complete than initially anticipated, the council believes that the new play area will offer residents more opportunities to live healthily. 

“We know these days that we’re in competition with the latest gadgets and digital distractions,” Cllr Firmager said. “That’s why we chose a design which offers similar rewards and will encourage young people to get off the sofa and enjoy it.” 

Cantley Park has received a further £1.6million in investment from the council to improve its facilities, including a new floodlit artificial sports pitch which opened last autumn.