A £1.1m overhaul of Darlington’s play areas to encourage children to take risks is under way.

Over the next two years, 22 parks will either be built or refurbished, as part of the national drive.

Instead of swings and roundabouts, the new parks will feature more exciting activities, based around landscape features.

Experts claim an element of danger is essential to a child’s development, and the new parks will put an emphasis on exposing children to controlled risk.

Kirsty Thomson, regional development officer at Play England, the children’s organisation overseeing the project, said: “It’s about moving away from the fence and carpet style play park and going back to climbing trees, and getting people to think outside of the box.

“If children don’t take risks they will look for them elsewhere.

It helps them manage risks in the future.”

The sites to be finished by March 31, next year, are at Albert Hill, Cocker Beck, Eastbourne Park, Lascelles, Red Hall, West Park, Bensham Park, Bushel Hill Park, Green Park, Eastbourne Park and the Skerne restoration.

The sites provisionally listed for completion the following year are at North Lodge Park, Alderman Crooks Park, Ettersgill Drive, North Park, Darrowby Drive, Springfield Green Lane, Faverdale, Auckland Oval, Sugar Hill Park, Fryers Crescent and Beech Wood.

Councillor Chris McEwan, Darlington Borough Council’s cabinet member for children and young people, said: “This investment is excellent news, because it means young people have a say on the play facilities, provided for their benefit, in their areas.”

Councillor Andy Scott, the council’s cabinet member for health and leisure, said: “We’re working with community groups, friends of parks, as well as young people and Darlington Association on Disability to ensure what we provide is what people want.

“We’re looking at using the natural environment more in the designs, so the facilities are created around that – it’s very exciting.”