Central Coast Council is set to renew 10 playspaces across the region this month at a total cost of $1.29M.
All locations, comprising one district, and nine local playspaces with two requiring relocation and one converted into a natural playspace will be closed for construction and reopened by the end of April.
Central Coast Council Director Community and Culture Mel Smith said Council’s Playspace Strategy ensures the community assets are maintained through a renewal program with regular reviews and a programmed schedule of works to maintain, upgrade and – where necessary – remove old, vandalised, or broken equipment.
“The physical location of playspaces and how they are spatially distributed across the region are important in determining how frequently they are used by the community,” Smith said.
“Council aims to ensure that there is a network of well designed, inclusive, enjoyable appropriately sited playspaces that provide diversity in play experiences.
“Foremost, our priority is to ensure that all our play spaces are safe and meet Australian standards.”
Playspace locations to be renewed are: Mackenzie Reserve, Budgewoi; Bluebell Park Playspace, Berkeley Vale; Gurdon Reserve playspace, Woy Woy Bay; Koolewong Foreshore Reserve, Koolewong; Oakland Ave Playspace, Wyongah; Osborne Park Playspace, Toukley; Pioneer Park Playspace, Killarney Vale; Tonkiss St Payspace, Tuggerah; Wycombe Rd Playspace, Terrigal; and McKellar Blvd Playspace, Blue Haven (relocation from Birdwood Ave to McKellar Bvd).
Administrator Rik Hart said playspaces and parks play an important role in the lives of our community and visitors to the area.
“They are places in which we socialise, keep active and engage as a community,” he said.
“For our children – besides being lots of fun – play spaces develop their physical, emotional, social and cognitive skills.”
At Mackenzie Reserve components of the existing playspace will be upgraded and new equipment will be installed.
Some of the existing equipment will be renovated and retained as part of the upgrade and a new concrete pathway will be constructed.
Bluebell Park will see the replacement of ageing play equipment will new equipment and the construction of a new concrete pathway.
will be constructed to connect the playspace with natural stone seating, plus rubber softfall into and around the playspace to promote accessibility and inclusion.
At Gurdon Reserve play equipment will be upgraded and there will be new park furniture, landscaping and rubber softfall into and around the facility.
Works at Koolewong Reserve will include the removal of existing play equipment and construction of a renewed playspace with new play equipment and concrete pathway.
New fencing and gates will protect users from the adjacent car parks with established trees retained to provide natural shade.
At Oakland Street Reserve old equipment will be replaced and there will be a new concrete pathway, park furniture and stone seating, plus landscaping and rubber softfall.
Old play equipment will be removed at Osborne Park to be replaced with new equipment and an improved pathway.
All existing established trees will be retained to provide natural shade.
Plans for Pioneer Park will involve demolishing and resurfacing the existing area to relocate the playspace within the park to achieve a safer line of sight for parents.
The new space will feature natural timber play elements, sculptures and stepping-stones with formal and informal settings connecting the playspace.
The existing play equipment at Tonkiss Street Reserve will be demolished to make way for new equipment, concrete pathway, stone seating, landscaping, and a mix of mulch and rubber softfall with existing trees retained.
New play equipment will replace old at Wycombe Rd local playspace.
The Mackellar Boulevard playspace at Blue Haven has been relocated by 500 metres, with the new location to include new plkay equipment, a concrete pathway stone seating and plus rubber softfall.
All existing established trees will be retained to provide natural shade.
Source:
Media release, Feb 28
Central Coast Council