Central Coast Council has upgraded six local playspaces just in time for the summer holidays.
Playspaces at Avoca Beach (Ross Park), Mardi (Woolmers Cres), East Gosford (Hylton Moore Oval), North Avoca (Palm Gully Park), Pretty Beach (Turo Reserve) and Saratoga (Jirramba Reserve) have all received facelifts for families and visitors to enjoy.
Council Administrator Rik Hart said playspaces are the heart of any neighbourhood and important community hubs.
“Council manages and maintains over 260 playspaces across the region and continues to deliver innovative and high quality spaces where kids can play and learn and the community can connect, socialise and lead active lifestyles,” he said.
“We are appreciative of funding from the Australian Government, which has enabled Council to renew these playspaces with safe and engaging equipment for the benefit of local communities, and also for the contribution of additional funding from some local community groups so that accessible pathways could link around three of the playspaces to improve inclusion.”
At Ross Park, Avoca Beach, components of the previous playspace needed to be replaced.
Some of the existing equipment (spider net climbing frame, and park furniture) was renovated and retained as part of the upgrade.
Connecting and circulation pathways into and around the facility have been retained and complemented by new rubber softfall and synthetic grass under surfacing to provide greater accessibility.
Established trees have been retained and new shade structures installed, along with replaced fencing and gates.
Supporting playspace infrastructure such as waste and recycling bin enclosures were replaced and a water drinking station installed.
At Mardi, the Woolmers Crescent playspace saw ageing play equipment replaced with a new native animal inspired playspace, and a mix of mulch and rubber softfall.
Supporting infrastructure such as seating, and new pathways to the existing picnic tables and shelter were constructed and established tress retained to provide natural shade over the playspace.
East Gosford’s Hylton Moore Oval has a new and improved split level active/sport inspired themed playspace with new park furniture, landscaping and rubber softfall into and around the facility.
Established tress were retained and with new plantings will provide natural shade over the playspace.
At North Avoca, Palm Gully Park has a new, beach/tropical inspired theme playspace.
Concrete pathways were constructed to connect the playspace with the existing shelter and newly installed park furniture plus rubber softfall into and around the facility.
Established trees were retained and with new plantings will provide natural shade over the playspace.
Pretty Beach’s Turo Reserve saw existing play equipment was replaced with a new nautical inspired themed playspace.
New concrete pathways were constructed to connect the playspace with existing park furniture, plus rubber softfall into and around the facility
Existing fitness equipment and supporting infrastructure such as seating, picnic tables and shelters were retained.
New trees were planted to supplement existing established trees to provide long term natural shade over the playspace.
At Saratoga, works at Jirramba Reserve included the removal of the existing play equipment and replacement with an improved natural/coastal inspired themed playspace with new turf and rubber softfall, plus an accessible concrete loop track pathway connecting to the existing park furniture, toilet amenities and playspace.
New trees have been planted to provide natural shade over the playspace.
The six projects were jointly funded by the Australian Government, Central Coast Council and various community local community groups.
Australian Government funding of $803,584 was provided through the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI) Program.
The East Gosford Football Club provided $5,000 for the construction of the accessible concrete pathway from the Hylton Moore Oval playspace entry to the carpark, Wagstaffe to Killcare Community Association (WTKCA) provided $9,817.50 to build a circulation concrete path loop track around the new playspace at Turo Reserve, Pretty Beach, and $9,000 was provided by 3 Villages Community Group to fund a circulation concrete path loop track around the new playspace at Jirramba Reserve, Saratoga.
Member for Robertson Gordon Reid said the revamped playspaces would be enjoyed by the community for years to come and will encourage active lifestyles.
Member for Dobell Emma McBride MP said the Federal Government was proud to work with Council to deliver the vital upgrades.
“We want local playspaces like Woolmers Cres, Mardi to be fun, safe and inclusive so families and visitors can enjoy them for many years to come,” she said.
In addition to the major upgrades, Council has also done work on six other playspaces around the region in the past year.
Read Council’s Playspace Strategy to learn about the strategic direction for the development and sustainable management of playspaces across the coast.
Source:
Media release, Dec 20
Central Coast Council