A SEASIDE paddling pool and play area is guaranteed to win a prestigious prize at an upcoming awards ceremony. Rhyl’s Drift Park, on the West Parade, was completed late and over budget, but time has showed it to be a success and the development has been nominated for an award. The Roses Design Awards attract over 450 key individuals in the design and architecture industry and the Drift Park has been nominated in the Best Place Making category. Cllr Dave Thomas, former town mayor and Denbighshire’s lead member for regeneration, was not surprised at the nomination. “The council has been working with its partners over recent years on the regeneration of the town, as part of the Rhyl Going Forward strategy,” he said. “The Drift Park itself is a prime example of how a rundown area of the promenade has been transformed, with a natural garden area, children’s playground, a water play area, open theatre and a mini golf attraction now in place. This is a quality project and deserves this recognition.” Construction costs at the park’s inception were estimated at £3.8 million, but by completion they had almost doubled to £6.5 million. It was funded through the European Structural Funds, Assembly Government, Denbighshire County Council, Rhyl Town Council and the Wales Tourist Board. Earlier this year, the Drift Park was nominated for the regeneration category of the prestigious Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Awards in Wales – seen by many as the Oscars of the property world. The ceremony will take place on October 16 at Manchester’s Hilton Hotel. Although there are gold, silver and bronze awards in each category, there is one other nomination in the Best Place Making category and Rhyl is up| against Cardon Den in Stonehaven. | 
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