Time to play for all children

Local school children poured into a new playground in Wollongong last Friday.

The children, from Gwynneville Public School, Para Meadows and Fairy Meadow Demonstration School Support Unit, had more reason that normal to be excited by the opening, because they had a hand in designing some of the park’s features.

Two students from the schools officially declared the innovative park open along with Wollongong City Council’s General Manager David Farmer last week.

Located within the Botanical Gardens in Wollongong, the park contains a play maze, dry creek bed with a water pump, a nature walk, a customised spider web net, a watering can cubby house, timber boardwalk, observation tower, sandpit and slide.

The artwork in the park was adapted from artworks created by children from the three schools involved.

What makes the new facility extra special though is the fact that it was specially designed to be able to cater to children of all need levels.

According to Mr Farmer it is all part of Council’s vision for creating a child-friendly city.

“The All Abilities playground is a special project which ensures all children in the community can have access to innovative and enjoyable play opportunities,” Mr Farmer said.

“The new playground is part of our commitment to creating a child friendly city, a concept which involves keeping local children and young people at the centre of the city’s vision for development.”

“Being ‘child-friendly’ is about having a shared vision with children for children, and this has been a key component of an all abilities playground.

“Bringing local children on board to help design the playground provides them with a sense of ownership and pride in the space.”

The new playground also includes sand pits where ‘fossils’ can be unearthed and a giant teapot.