Extra seating could be installed in Ipswich’s Bourne Park in a bid to get more families active.

A funding request for more than £7,000 will tonight be considered by Ipswich Borough Council’s south west committee.

This will cover the cost of three picnic tables with seating at the Wherstead Road end of the park, which includes a paddling pool, zip-line and children’s play area, and an oak bench at the Stoke Park Drive end, next to the football pitch and near the smaller play area.

In a report written for the committee, Simon Lanning said: “The aim of this provision is to promote active lifestyles and sports engagement to families in south west Ipswich and to promote the use of Bourne Park’s open spaces by providing better facilities.

“Park and cemeteries teams have been consulted about the need, appropriateness and location of extra seating within Bourne Park.

“Officers from these teams agree there is a need for additional seating due to the high number of park users, particularly in the summer months.

“They expect all benches to be well used.”

The parks team from Ipswich Borough Council has estimated that 12,775 people visit the Wherstead Road end of the park each year, and 6,935 people go to the Stoke Park Drive end.

Mr Lanning writes in the report that the additional seating would improve the quality of the play areas and help to sustain community use.

The new picnic tables would also be installed with grass matt paths to link the seating with the main path to enable easy access for wheelchair users or people with pushchairs.