This year Felix Road Adventure Playground celebrates its 50th Birthday! To mark this historic anniversary, Eastside Community Trust is planning a series of celebrations, events and activities in 2022
Films and Talks about adventure play
Friday 22 July, 6 to 9pm
Easton Community CentreNew mural
Exhibition of archive material and interviews
Food celebration
Felix at 50 Celebration Day
Sunday 25 September 1 to 5pm
Felix Road Adventure Playground
Felix Road a history
In 1972, Felix Road was opened to address the lack of opportunities to play for children in a part of Bristol undergoing huge redevelopment. There was a strong need for a community project that would provide a playful and creative sanctuary for children in a rapidly changing area.
Through the persistent hard work of parents, playworkers and community activists Felix Road would exceed all expectations of survival, and in 2022 has reached it’s half century. It remains one of the most diverse, widely used and well-loved adventure playgrounds in the UK.
Opened up off the back of the ‘pop up’ playground scene at the time, the Felix Road plot – an old colliery – was seen as a potential solution to the large numbers of children out in the streets with little to do in an urban environment still recovering from the war.
It would quickly become a very popular space among local children, much to the annoyance of the residents of the time! Over the years, the playground has seen many changes, but its essential inclusive and vibrant spirit has remained much the same. It is a testament to Felix Road’s nature that it is hard to imagine Easton, or indeed Bristol, without it.
