A mother's donation in memory of her daughter has rebuilt the Friar's Wharf play area. The concrete mound has gone and the new equipment suits toddlers.

The play area at Friar’s Wharf in South Oxford has reopened as Emily’s Playground, rebuilt with money given by an Oxford resident in memory of her daughter. Oxford City Council announced the completion today. Emily’s family reopened the site last week.

The donor is Edna, whose daughter Emily Topf Abrams died in 2024 at the age of 42 after a blood clot. The council put in additional funding, and the play area now carries the name Emily’s Playground at Friar’s Wharf.

Edna said in the council’s announcement that “we are happy that an event that was so sad and devastating, has created a place of joy”, and added: “I hope that Emily’s Playground at Friar’s Wharf is a place where children can come together, enjoy themselves, and make happy memories.”

What has actually been built

Work started in May. Residents had asked for two things: more for younger children to use, and a space that felt more welcoming. The council lists what went in:

  • two multi-play climbers with slides, one for older children and one for younger children
  • a new swing for younger children
  • a coned rope climbing frame, 3m tall, meant for a range of ages and abilities
  • seating for families

Two things came out. The large concrete mound that dominated the middle of the site has been removed, along with the old play equipment. Anyone who used the playground before will notice that first: the mound is visible in the photograph above, taken in January 2024.

The groundworks were done by ODS, the council-owned company that runs much of Oxford’s street and parks work. The equipment was supplied and installed by the play specialists HAGS.

Councillor Anna Railton, deputy leader and cabinet member for planning and zero carbon Oxford, said the improvements “respond directly to feedback from residents and provide a wider range of play opportunities for children of different ages and abilities”.

What it means for you

Friar’s Wharf is a residential street in St Ebbe’s, on the city-centre side of the Thames and linked to Grandpont by a footbridge. The council files it under South Oxford. It is one of the closest play areas to the middle of the city, and until now it was set up mostly for older children.

Three practical points:

  • It is open now. There is no booking and no charge, and the reopening has already happened.
  • The age range has widened. If you have a toddler and had written the site off, the swing and the smaller climber are new.
  • The mound has gone. If you knew the playground for its concrete slope, that is the change you will notice.

The scheme started because residents asked for it, which is worth noting if you use one of the city’s other play areas. Oxford City Council’s own directory of parks lists eight it manages, each with its own page; it does not set out a route for requesting new equipment, so the councillor for your ward is the practical starting point.

Also on The Oxford Post

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