Families with young children and those who have diverse sensory needs will benefit greatly from four newly-fenced playgrounds across the Shellharbour area.
Shellharbour City Council has 88 playgrounds across the city that provide fun and activities for a range of children from toddler age all the way to teenagers. Each playground varies greatly, with all different play equipment from swings to zip-lines, slides and even Ninja Walls.
While Council offers a great array of playgrounds, many families in the community requested some fenced playgrounds to ensure further safety of children and those with sensory needs.
As a result, Council consulted with our local residents through our Let's Chat website to find out exactly what was needed for the playgrounds. The responses were overwhelmingly in favour of brand-new fencing.
"Gated parks where parents and grandparents can relax as the children play," Luana said.
"Fenced parks for children with not just special needs but also children who tend to explore more. This will eliminate the extra stress," Kayla said.
Added Fencing will Ensure a Safe Environment for Children
Residents can now enjoy fenced playgrounds across the entire Shellharbour City, at Lake Illawarra, Albion Park, Oak Flats, and at Blackbutt.
Caption: Shellharbour City Mayor Chris Homer pictured at the brand-new gate at Reddall Reserve 'Pirate' Park at Lake Illawarra. Image courtesy of Shellharbour City Council.
Shellharbour City Mayor Chris Homer said the newly improved playgrounds showed Council's commitment to serving the needs of our diverse community and the safety of all residents.
"With the installation of fencing at four existing playgrounds across the region, Council continues to show that when the community speaks, we listen," Mayor Homer said.
Whilst most Shellharbour playgrounds are unfenced, these four were chosen due to their close proximity to waterways and busy roads.
The four newly-fenced playgrounds across the four Shellharbour wards were chosen due to their proximity to waterways and/or busy roads. Image courtesy of Shellharbour City Council.
For the likes of Shellharbour resident and mother of two Sammi Temelkovski, having the safety of fencing is a huge plus.
"I think it is a great initiative to have park fences, as it is more inclusive for families who have concerns about children running off," Temelkovski said.
"It makes it more of a safe, controlled environment for the children."
Where the Newly-Fenced Playgrounds are Located:
- Reddall Reserve 'Pirate' Playground - Reddall Pde, Lake Illawarra
- Mood Park Playground - Corner of Tongarra Rd and Terry St, Albion Park
- Central Park Playground - 81 The Boulevarde, Oak Flats
- Collins Reserve Playground - Glider Ave, Blackbutt
To check out all the other playgrounds in the Shellharbour region, visit the Parks and Playgrounds section on Shellharbour City Council's website.
