IT LOOKS like children will be able to enjoy the upgraded playground at Bega Park in their summer holidays.
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Works have begun to improve the park, located off Parker St in Bega, and equipment will be installed from December 14 followed by rubber softfall before Christmas.
Bega mother Kirsty Umbers, a member of a group that has been advocating for an improved playground at the park for the last two years, was very happy with the current works.
However, she thought improvements could be added over time, such as toilets and a barbecue.
“I was so excited when my sister called to tell me they had put up fencing around it [the park] to block it off,” she said.
“I thought ‘yes, this is actually happening’.”
Currently, a group of mothers she knows go to Candelo to have their kids’ parties, as there is a nice park there with shelter, toilets and a barbecue.
According to Bega Valley Shire Council, the playground has been designed with inclusiveness in mind.
It will have improved access features including, boat swings, sand play areas and a low level slide making use of the changes in site levels.
The rubber softfall will improve access around play equipment.
In addition, a multi-play climbing unit, rocker, landscaping using logs and rocks as natural balance items, park furniture and a connecting path from Parker St will complete the project.
Ms Umbers said it was part of her group’s initial vision to put in toilets and a barbecue as well as improved car parking to make the park more accessible to people who needed disabled access.
“The whole idea was to have an area where you could host a kids’ party and have a barbecue, rather than just having an area for a five-minute play,” she said.
Toilets were a “massive” issue, Ms Umbers said, as when young children need to go to the bathroom, they need to go quickly.
However, she wanted to be clear she was not ungrateful for the current works.
“I keep saying to everyone it is better than what we have at the moment and we are very grateful for that,” she said.
Overall, she said the planning process had been a very positive experience and she appreciated council keeping her group updated with progress.
In other news, a revised program will result in the installation of site fencing at Merimbula’s Ford Park playground after Australia Day next year.
Works will begin early February, with a six-week program scheduled for completion by mid-March depending on the weather.