Workmen put the finishing touches on Bellambi’s upgraded Chounding Crescent playground. Photo: Wollongong City Council.
Five suburban Wollongong playgrounds have been replaced, upgraded or made more accessible for all the community to enjoy.
Wollongong City Council has completed works at Bellambi, Thirroul, Mount Ousley, Wollongong and Lake Heights in time for a school holiday tryout.
The upgrades are part of council’s playground program which provides modern play equipment specifically catering to the needs of the surrounding community.
It includes new play spaces for kids to enjoy, incorporating contemporary accessibility standards and supporting infrastructure such as connecting footpaths.
Wollongong Lord Mayor Tania Brown said the benefits of outdoor play to the physical and mental health of children, parents and carers were well established.
“The diverse range of valuable recreational spaces council constructs and maintains across our LGA may vary in size and scale, but all are of equal importance to the local neighbourhoods they serve,” she said.
“It is essential that we provide local inclusive and accessible facilities that build a sense of community and belonging and can be safely enjoyed by people of all ages.
“We’re delighted to see these five playgrounds reopened to ensure our youngest residents can enjoy time with friends and family and to help build connected and healthy local communities.”
The five playgrounds are at JJ Kelly Park Playground, Wollongong; Treetop Glen Playground at Thirroul’s Fred Woodward Park; Aristo Park Playground at Mount Ousley; Bellambi’s Chounding Crescent Reserve Playground; and Whimbrel Park Playground at Lake Heights.
Works at JJ Kelly Park were designed to cater for a broader demographic and included the installation of an accessible spinner designed for wheelchair users, a climbing circuit with two slide opportunities for a wide range of users and fencing for security.
Aristo Park Playground was relocated to parkland at the end of Aristo Crescent, improving access to the play space.
The works at Lake Heights included the installation of a new combination unit with multiple climbing opportunities, two slides, a simple balance trail, skateboard spring rocker and a nest swing for more inclusive group play.
Council looks after more than 150 playgrounds – click here to find out where they are.
