The two West Midlands parks reimagined in popular video game Minecraft
Two Solihull parks have been brought to life in the popular video game Minecraft
Solihull Council commissioned young adults with learning disabilities at Newlands Bishop Farm to recreate the 130-acre Malvern and Brueton Parks in Minecraft.
This project is aimed to improve accessibility and inclusivity in parks and open spaces.
Over the course of six months, young adults designed an online replica which features everything from the park’s tennis courts, lake, and an ice cream van; alongside over 50 interactive characters, wandering animals and a guided treasure hunt.
Solihull Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Infrastructure, Cllr Ken Hawkins, said: “We have fantastic parks and open spaces in Solihull and bringing them to the world’s best-selling video game is a great way to open them up to even more people, particularly those who cannot access them in person – for instance, if they have issues getting to a physical location. It will also help those who have social difficulties within open environments by providing a safe introduction to the parks from the comfort of their own home, giving them the confidence to visit physically.”
Nathan, who is one of the young adults who designed the Minecraft park, said: “Being part of the project has given me more confidence not only in IT and design, but it has also built my self-confidence too and that means so much to me.”