Playground shade program begins
Published on 29 August 2019
MidCoast's younger residents will benefit from work starting soon to provide shade over playgrounds at Palmgrove Park in Forster and Lone Pine Park in Tuncurry from Monday 9 September.
Weather permitting, the playgrounds are planned to be closed on Monday 9 and Tuesday 10 September while the posts are installed. The shade cloth will be installed a month later with minimal disruption to playground users.
"The community has been calling for shade protection on playgrounds across the MidCoast region," said Council's Director of Liveable Communities, Paul De Szell.
"We have listened and are pleased to be partnering with the NSW Government in delivering welcome relief from the summer sun over our playground equipment."
The playground shade program is funded thanks to a NSW Government Stronger Country Communities Fund grant of $550,000. The playgrounds at Central Park, Wingham and Coolongolook Oval are also included in the program and will commence later this year.
The installation of the playground shade at Allan Park Stroud has just been completed.
"Construction is also well underway on the region’s first inclusive play space 'Livvi’s Place' at Fotheringham Park in Taree. That project will include shade over the new play space," Mr De Szell explained.
MidCoast Council manages 86 playgrounds across the region, with 10 identified as high use / regional parks, and the remainder either categorised as high use district parks, or lower use neighbourhood parks.
Council has a plan for playground upgrades which focuses on maintenance and providing structured or natural shade over playground equipment and improving accessibility to play equipment.
Over the last year, playground equipment upgrades have been completed at Palmgrove Park in Forster, Limeburners Creek, Billabong Park in Gloucester and Providence Bay Park in Hawks Nest.
New playgrounds were completed at Nabiac, including a small cycle loop, and at Gordon Smith Reserve in Harrington, partnering with the Harrington Lions Club.