Park for children with disabilities planned in Parramatta

An all inclusive park will be built inside the grounds of Parramatta Park, fit for kids of every ability and has been designed to accommodate bikes, scooters and wheelchairs.

A new all-inclusive playground has been announced costing $1.5 million and inside the current Parramatta Park. Picture: Artist’s impression

A million dollar park for children of all abilities is in the final stages of planning.

The $1.5 million park will be accessible to all children, even those with a disability, when construction is complete on the playground inside Parramatta Park.

The park, which was welcomed by the students of St Patrick’s School from Parramatta, has been designed to accommodate bikes, scooters and wheelchairs.

Suellen Fitzgerald the executive director for Parramatta Park Trust said younger children were kept in mind during the initial design of the playground, which will be built over a current swing-set and playground in the park.

“It is a little tired here now,” Ms Fitzgerald said.

Suellen Fitzgerald and the pupils from St Patrick's primary school announce a new all-inclusive playground inside Parramatta Park. Picture: MA Taouk

“The new park will be bigger than the one here now and will be concerned with active play. The equipment and the way we’ve designed it is for younger children, particularly for toddlers.”

Ms Fitzgerald said the trees at the site will be kept, and the equipment will be built around and on top of the existing site.

Year six pupil from St Patrick’s Luke Takchi said he hopes the park gets kids back outdoors.

“Kids these days are more focused on video games, Luke, 11, said.

“If they see somewhere like this they’ll want to come out and play and I think that will be a good idea.”

The play ground will be most suitable for toddlers once the construction is complete.

The park will also include a historical element, tying in the history of the site, stretching from indigenous custodians through to colonialism.

“It is going to be unique as it interprets it's the history of this site,” Ms Fitzgerald said.

“Parramatta Park is in its 160th birthday this year, it is one of the oldest parks in Australia. This will interpret that history with the artwork so it will not only be about physical play and having a great time outdoors but the history of Parramatta.”

St Patrick's primary school students helped break ground on the playground. Picture: MA Taouk

Situated a few hundred metres from the historic dairy cottage, built in 1796 and Old Government House, built in 1856, the park will be connecting the areas using the park’s “people’s loop” project, which aims to connect the high pedestrian areas with a car-free, pedestrian and bike loop.

The tender is currently out for the construction. demolition and early works for the playground is expected before Christmas, and the spot will be open to children by April next year.