ST GEORGE Park will soon be transformed using Bristol children's design ideas – including a huge wooden dragon.

The new £87,000 play area – to be complete by next April – will feature the dragon to provide slides and a backdrop to adventure areas in a scheme drawn up by Bristol City Council's landscape design team.

The main features were suggested by more than 300 youngsters keen to see the already popular park improved.

The work will be carried out in the New Year and will include an adventure play site for older children, a kickabout area and a toddlers' play spot and new safety surfacing.

St George West councillor Ron Stone promoted the project – and got money from planning deals with developers to help pay for it.

It will be called the John Deasy Play Park after Mr Stone's fellow ward councillor, who died earlier this year.

Mr Deasy represented St George West for 17 years.

Mr Stone approached local schools – Air Balloon Hill Infants and Juniors, Summerhill Infants and Juniors, St Patrick's Infants and Juniors and Speedwell Nursery – and encouraged children aged three to 10 to give him their ideas.

About 350 responded with drawings, letters and lists.

The project is being funded with £50,000 from the City Pathfinder Play grant from the Government, which the council won in August, and £37,000 from developers' improvement funding.

Orders for equipment have been placed and work will start in January. The play park should be ready for use by April.

"This is a tremendous victory for kiddie power," said Mr Stone.

"Their enthusiasm and the sheer quantity of ideas and the size of the response catapulted the St George play area into phase one of the Pathfinder Play Scheme for the city.

"The children's drawings and ideas were part of an exhibition in the Council House for National Play day.

"Wood from fallen trees damaged by last year's gales will be reused in the adventure play area.

"It will be named after John Deasy as a living tribute to his dedicated work for families and a permanent memorial to him in the heart of his ward, in a place he loved."

Children at Air Balloon Hill Infants School gave the St George Park project their seal of approval.

Year 2 pupils, their teacher, Jenny Knight, and learning support assistant Kim Hockett popped in to see where some of their ideas will be put into effect.

Amy Moon, seven, said: "I think it's brilliant because we're going to be able to have slides on the dragon and have fun. It will be a friendly dragon."

William Chappell, seven, was pleased to hear his idea about separate areas for different age groups would be incorporated.

Jarule Peccoo, six, put forward a suggestion for a nature area with pretend animals.

There will be an area earmarked for wild flowers and Ms Knight said this might attract animal life, if only mini-beasts or insects.

Kamara Forrest, seven, welcomed the inclusion of a timber climbing frame and other features "to give older children something to do".

"I would like to see no graffiti here," she said.

Alice Mayon-White, seven, suggested a seating area for parents and was pleased to see one had been included.

Celine Darbyshire, seven, who is on the school's eco-committee, said she hoped to see more recycling banks at the site.

Mr Stone said the council was increasing its collection rates at the recycling banks in the Bristol park's car park.