Let the fun and games begin: Stanwell Park Playground open for business

Image: Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery (left) with Member for Heathcote Maryanne Stuart (right) and students from Stanwell Park Public School.

A brand-new Stanwell Park Playground is set to be a hit this summer, with the newly constructed site officially unveiled on Wednesday.

The new playground boasts an impressive list of features, including a tower and tube slide, inground trampoline and spinning carousel, while an accessible nest swing is one of five swings available.

Kids under five will also enjoy a pint-sized climbing fort, while the climbing net was one of the number one requests from children from Stanwell Park Public School and Stanwell Park Pre-school identified in the consultation during the planning phase.

The playground, and the bike track that surrounds it, are part of a commitment from Council to replace or refurbish ageing local playgrounds for our youngest residents to safely enjoy.

The new site was opened alongside an adjacent Nature Play space made possible by a $40,000 injection via the NSW Government’s Local Small Commitments Allocation (LSCA) grant program.

An intended throwback to times when kids would play outside in a natural environment, these spaces facilitate an exploration of nature, while encouraging curiosity, creativity, emotional resilience and enhancing children's wellbeing.

The first of its kind created in the Wollongong Local Government Area, Nature Play spaces invite children to find their own way to play and enjoy time with their friends away from the structure of modular play equipment.

As a new initiative, Council looks forward to seeing how parents and families enjoy use of the freshly created play area.

Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM said the opening illustrates Council’s commitment to maintaining its more than 150 play spaces for local kids and their families.

“We know the value these spaces provide for the youngest members of our community, both to enjoy leisure time with their families but also to form new friendships and connections,” Cr Bradbery said.

“The benefits of outdoor play to both the physical and mental health of children are well established, and Council is committed to providing these opportunities, as well as facilities that foster a sense of community and belonging.

“The diverse range of valuable recreational spaces Council constructs and maintains vary in size and scale but all are of equal importance to the local neighbourhoods in which they are located.

“Ensuring these sites are maintained and accessible remains a top priority.”

Wollongong Council General Manager Greg Doyle welcomed the NSW Government’s grant funding that supported the delivery of the new Nature Play space.

“Council is committed to upgrading and improving the playgrounds we have across our city and we are grateful for the NSW Government’s investment in an innovative new play space for our kids,” Mr Doyle said.

“We continue to look for opportunities to partner with the NSW Government on the delivery of important community-focussed projects throughout our suburbs that help to create more great facilities for local families to enjoy.”

The Hon. Member for Heathcote Maryanne Stuart said the freshly unveiled play space was shining example of what partnership between the NSW Government and local councils can achieve.

“The new Stanwell Park Playground is an exciting addition to our community, giving local families a fantastic space to explore, play, and stay active," Ms Stuart said.

"This state-of-the-art playground, with its range of equipment and features, will be a big hit this summer and beyond.

“Our local parks and playgrounds are a place where families can come together, children can make friends, and everyone can enjoy the outdoors. I’m proud to be part of the Minns Labor Government that is committed to building stronger and healthier communities.

“It was wonderful to see the children from the local preschool and the Stanwell Park Primary School have so much fun today when we cut the ribbon to open the new playground. As we continue to invest in our local parks and playgrounds, I look forward to seeing how the Stanwell Park Playground brings families together, creating happy memories for years to come.

"It’s an exciting step forward for our community and a testament to the power of partnership between the NSW Government and local council.”

For more information please visit Council’s website at www.wollongong.nsw.gov.au or call Customer Service on (02) 4227 7111.