Playground to be relocated, after car smashed into its frames

Council has revealed its plans for an East Geelong playground after a car smashed into it earlier this year.

A car crashed into this Richmond Oval playground earlier this year.

An East Geelong playground that closed after a car smashed into it will be renovated and relocated.

Richmond Oval playground on Richmond Cres was empty shortly after 9pm on May 16 when witnesses reported hearing a “loud bang”.

A car allegedly lost control and cannoned into the empty play area, with the 42-year-old driver of the vehicle hospitalised.

A car crashed into this Richmond Oval playground in May.

The play area has since reopened in a reduced capacity, but will be renovated and relocated within the reserve in early 2025.

Executive director city life Anthony Basford said the new Richmond Oval playground was proposed to be relocated to a safe area within the reserve that does not experience the same type of through traffic of the previous location.

“It would be set back approximately 25 metres from the road and would be protected by existing posts and rail fences,” he said.

Council invited the community to have its say on a proposed playground design prior to September 13.

The proposed playground would include an inclusive basket swing, and play areas for children of a number of ages.

Chair of the active spaces portfolio, councillor Eddy Kontelj, said the existing playground equipment would be replaced with new equipment and a seat would be installed.

“As part of the design we will make sure there is somewhere to run, somewhere to swing, somewhere to slide and somewhere to climb,” Mr Kontelj said.

The relocation site is still within proximity to Richmond Cres, but further away from the East Geelong Football and Netball Club.

The renovation of existing and installation of new netball courts is also scheduled to commence in late 2024.

Mayor Trent Sullivan said the relocation and renewal of the playground would be great for children and also pave the way for the exciting netball upgrade budgeted for this financial year.

“This is a popular playground and its forced closure this year was felt by the local community,” he said.

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said the driver, an East Geelong man, suffered from non-life-threatening injuries and was expected to be charged on summons at a later date.

No one else was injured.

East Geelong Football and Netball Club president Dan Payne told the Addy at the time there had been no children on the playground, but had it happened just a short time earlier the incident could have been tragic.

Council is inviting the community to have its say on a proposed playground design prior to September 13 via yoursay.geelongaustralia.com.au/richmondreserveplayground.

Originally published as Playground to be relocated, after car smashed into its frames