A SPECIAL play area, designed to mark the anniversary of the founding of America is taking shape in one of the most historic parks in Ipswich.The play area at Holywells Park will celebrate the 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown in Virginia, US by English settlers led by Suffolk landowner Bartholomew Gosnold in 1607.

A SPECIAL play area, designed to mark the anniversary of the founding of America is taking shape in one of the most historic parks in Ipswich.

The play area at Holywells Park will celebrate the 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown in Virginia, US by English settlers led by Suffolk landowner Bartholomew Gosnold in 1607.

The play area features a water feature, a climbing net and a large model ship created as a replica of 'The Discovery', one of the ships that set off for the new world.

A council spokesman said: “It's a great visitor's attraction, there's a paddling pool and a water feature.

“We're hoping it will attract more people into the park as it's been quite quiet here over the past few months.”

Mary Platten, a member of friends of Holywells Park, said: “It's magnificent for the children; it's the first park in Ipswich to have a water feature. The children have such an imagination. They will love it.”

It is hoped the park will be ready to use by the start of the children's school holidays in two weeks' time and the play area will be officially launched on Saturday, August 25 by the park committee.

A spokesman for the park designers said: “We wanted to create a wow factor play ground that going to compete with the other destination parks, such as Christchurch Park and Whitehouse Park.”

It's not just a park it's an area where families can come and spend the whole day and it's been designed to cater for high volumes of children is all.”

Ipswich Council leader Liz Harsant, who walks in the park most days, said: “We are very excited by this. It's a fantastic play area which will prove a big attraction for the people of Ipswich.”