New Brighton playground dedicated to murdered girls opens

Brighton and Hove City Council has been working on the Wild Park project alongside relatives of Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway to provide a lasting tribute to the girls and create a space for the community to enjoy.

Best friends Nicola and Karen were nine when they were killed in the Brighton park in October 1986.

The play area, which is aimed at older children, follows the earlier opening of the neighbouring multi-use games area sports court and nearby outdoor gym and was made possible through a £200,000 investment by the council.

Inspired by a former adventure playground loved by families in Moulsecoomb in the 1960s and 1970s, it includes bespoke equipment designed specifically for the site by Kompan.

Both Nicola and Karen’s names are featured in the playing surface, providing a lasting memorial to the tragic events of 1986. This element was designed in partnership with the families of the two girls, including relatives who visited the play area earlier this week for the official opening.

Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway (Image: Supplied) The opening event included a morning of football for girls hosted by the Brighton and Hove Albion Foundation, which provides weekly, free community football sessions in Moulsecoomb and across Brighton and Hove, funded by the Premier League Charitable Fund.

The event re-created an all-girls football tournament which took place in 1986 in memory of Nicola and Karen and every girl who took part received a medal and personal congratulations from the Mayor of Brighton and Hove, Councillor Amanda Grimshaw.

There are now plans to make the tournament an annual event.

Officially opening the play area, Cllr Grimshaw praised the community and said she hoped the site would become a lasting celebration of the lives of Nicola and Karen.

“This has been such an important project – not just for the teams from the council and Kompan which have been working so hard to deliver such a fantastic facility, but more importantly, for the families of Nicola and Karen and the other representatives of the local community in Moulsecoomb who have been so instrumental in helping make it a reality,” she said.

“I have absolutely no doubt that this area will become a popular place for families, children and young people to meet, play, build friendships and make lasting memories together. It is fitting that the design not only enables that but also incorporates such a beautiful celebration of Nicola and Karen at its heart.”