$150K new playground at Rankin Park part of a City of Newcastle rollout

A new $150,000 playground on McCaffrey Drive, at Rankin Park is set to challenge young bodies and minds, with a rope-based play system, platforms and slide, swing set and balance logs.

The New Rankin Park playground. Supplied: City of Newcastle

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More and more new and upgraded playgrounds are popping up right across Newcastle as part of a rollout by the City of Newcastle, set to keep the kids happy wherever they are.

The latest is at Rankin Park, a new $150,000 playground on McCaffrey Drive, set to challenge young bodies and minds, including a rope-based play system, platforms and slide, swing set and balance logs.

The playground even blends in with its surrounds, equipment colours matching nearby eucalyptus trees and changing levels via steps in a sandstone retaining wall.

Fenced off from the traffic on McCaffrey Dr, the playground is accessible via a path that also leads to picnic tables under a timber shade structure.

George Outram (left), 2, and Ari Boorer (right), 2 enjoying the new slide. Supplied: City of Newcastle

A new $150,000 playground on McCaffrey Drive at Rankin Park. Supplied: Newcastle City Council

Set to be officially opened on Saturday, the Coldstream Reserve facility follows delivery of three other new playgrounds by the city this year in Adamstown, Wallsend, and the incredibly popular Stockton Active Hub on the Stockton Foreshore.

“Up to five of Newcastle's 119 playgrounds are included annually in the City’s asset renewal works program,” Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said.

“The feedback so far is that the kids absolutely love it.”

The new playground was built as a replacement for another nearby playground that had to be closed due to mine subsidence.

George Outram, 2,(middle right) with Ari Boorer, 2, (middle left), and their mums Emma Outram (right) and Danielle Eveleigh (left)

Ari Boorer (right), 2 playing in the new Rankin Park playground. Supplied: City of Newcastle

“After the forced closure of the Rosedale Crescent playground, the community was consulted to choose a new location, and the consensus was Coldstream Reserve just a few hundred metres away,” Ms Nelmes said.

“This is the fourth playground we’ve opened this year and I know how much pleasure they bring for both kids and their families.”

Two more upgrades are set to be delivered in Wallsend at Carrington Street Reserve and Brickworks Park over the next 12 months.”

The community is invited to celebrate the opening of the new playground tomorrow (Saturday) from 10:30am.