On 12 June 2010, Mary joined the Friends of Carr Lodge Park Group, local children and their parents to open a new ‘senior’ play area for children aged over seven.

The play area, located in Carr Lodge Park in Horbury, includes climbing rocks, a tyre swing, large slide and spaghettini - fun structures for youngsters to play on.

Wakefield Council worked with the Friends of Carr Lodge Park, and used £55,000 from the Playbuilder Fund to provide the new play area. The Horbury site has also had investment from the Waste Resources Environment Network and Community Spaces to the combined value of £95,000.

Mary Creagh said: “I really enjoyed meeting everybody who came to the opening ceremony at the park, and was delighted that the Friends of Carr Lodge Park invited me to cut the ribbon. The play area will provide countless hours of fun to local children, while also promoting the health benefits of a more active lifestyle. I hope we can all work together to get more of these kinds of facilities built in other areas of the city.”

Mike Smith, Chairman of the Friends of Carr Lodge Park group said: "The Friends of Carr Lodge Park are very proud to be involved with the new play area following the success of the junior play area opened by MP Mary Creagh in 2007 and feel this will enhance not just the park but the whole of Horbury."

Wakefield Council's Cabinet Member for Children and Young People Cllr Pat Garbutt said: "We're committed to providing fantastic services to the young people of the district to keep them entertained and healthy. We have worked with the community to build more great areas for kids to have fun and enjoy the outdoors for years to come."