All-abilities playground at Park Holme to go ahead in full after funding boost
A PLAYGROUND for children with disabilities in Park Holme will go ahead in full after receiving a $300,000 funding boost, while a new nature playground has recently opened in nearby Netley.
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- Playground plans scaled back due to $300,000 funding shortfall
- Council agrees to five-year leases on kindergartens
A PLAYGROUND for children with disabilities in Park Holme has received a $300,000 funding boost, while another $100,000 nature playground has recently opened in nearby Netley.
Marion Council is building a new playground for people of all abilities near the Marion Outdoor Pool at Park Holme, but had scaled back the plans because of a funding shortfall.
However, a new open space grant worth $280,000 now means it can add a trike track, sensory, sand and water play features, an extra second shelter and picnic table and more landscaping works to the project.
Morphettville mother Merissa Moyle said news the Hendrie St playground would be fully funded was “absolutely brilliant”.
It would allow her daughter Taylah, 9, to get some extra use out of her new trike, by riding to the park from home and then using its new trike track.
“She absolutely loves it — you see her face light up and she can ride around with all the other kids like any other child,” Miss Moyle said.
Taylah is non-verbal, has global development disorder and problems with mobility.
Miss Moyle said she visited several other parks with her daughter, including Jervois Street Reserve, South Plympton, and Jubilee Park at Port Noarlunga South.
However, she hoped the Hendrie Street Reserve would allow her daughter to play more independently.
“This one will be closer and more accessible — she’ll be able to play on everything,” Miss Moyle said.
Local ward councillor Jason Veliskou said the new playground would allow children with full mobility, and restricted mobility, to play side-by-side.
Other work already funded includes a fenced playground with swings, slides and a carousel, disability-accessible toilet, shelter and picnic area and landscaping.
The Sydney-based Touched by Olivia Foundation had promised to fundraise $400,000 for the project, to add to another $570,000 from the government and Marion Council.
However, it collected only $110,000 through grant applications, appeals to politicians and a public funding campaign.
The council had last year decided to scale back the plans because of the funds shortfall, and add extra elements if it found more money for the project.
Work is expected to be complete in July.
Netley playground
ROMPING through the sand, climbing hills and crossing bridges are some of the challenges at a new nature playground in Netley.
The $100,000 playground, at Joe Wells Reserve, was designed by children at Netley Kindergarten, built by nature play company Climbing Trees and landscaping business Dirtwork Landscapes, and funded by West Torrens Council.
Kindergarteners Charles, Rachael, Blair and Shiven tested out the playground last week and said their favourite part was jumping around the sandpit.
The kindergarten’s acting director, Renee Gordon, said the aim of the play area was to build confidence and resilience.
“There’s lots of water elements, platforms, places to hide and crawl through,” Ms Gordon said.
“We want the children to think about the decisions they’re making.”
The playground features a cave, a large simulated “bird’s nest”, along with a bridge, a sandpit and places to relax in the shade.
Ms Gordon said children had put their own ideas for the playground onto paper during their time at the kindergarten two years ago.
“We wanted them to have a voice in the community, be advocates and really work on them being citizens in this world,” Ms Gordon said.
Climbing Trees and Dirtwork Landscapes formalised the designs and started building work.
The director of Climbing Trees, Simon Hutchinson, described it as “very different from other playgrounds”.
“What’s fantastic about that is it gives parents a new opportunity in the local area to challenge their kids,” he said.
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