The community's votes are in on the design options for new playgrounds in three suburban neighbourhoods, Ken Shultz Park, Ray Beddoe Park, and Lloyd Park.
Wagga Wagga City Council put three concept designs for each playground to the community through our online engagement platform, Have Your Say Wagga Wagga, between Thursday 12 September and Friday 27 September 2024.
The results have now been collated, with clear community favourites chosen for all three playgrounds.
Council's Works and Playground Officer John Conlan thanked residents for making the effort to cast their votes online through Have Your Say Wagga Wagga.
"Across the three playgrounds, we received more than 530 submissions online, with the majority of submissions from residents who live near the playgrounds," Mr Conlan said.
"We are overwhelmed and happy to see so many people submit their vote.
"The community's input is integral to the playground improvement process, and we appreciate that they took the time to get involved and give us their input on what they want to see installed at their neighbourhood park."
The Ken Schultz playground is located in the park on the corner of Ceduna Street and Nilma Avenue in Mount Austin. The most favoured design for this playground was Option 1, which claimed 53.22 per cent of the vote, eight per cent ahead of Option 3.
The favourite design for the Ray Beddoe playground was Option 1, which won by just shy of 70 per cent, with 81.93 per cent of the vote. The park is in the open space to the west of Lakeside Drive, on the western side of Lake Albert.
It was a tighter result for Lloyd Park, in the open space off Barton Avenue, with 51.64 per cent of submissions favouring Option 1, and Option 2 accounting for 31.86 per cent of the vote.
The design options for all three playgrounds combine traditional playground elements with modern features, with aims to encourage play between younger and older youth.
"The new playground designs not only focus on general appeal, making them more attractive to each neighbourhood, but will also improve accessibility, with a focus on equipment at ground level," Mr Conlan said.
"There will also be bespoke elements, such as a large stainless steel tube slide at the Ray Beddoe Park, which is being relocated closer to the Wagga Wagga Country Club to take advantage of more open space for the larger playground."
The new playground designs not only focus on general appeal, making them more attractive to each neighbourhood, but will also improve accessibility, with a focus on equipment at ground level.
The total budget for the three playground replacements is $240,000.
Council aims to commence construction of the winning design options at the end of the year or by early 2025, depending on availability of the equipment from suppliers.
Voting Results:
Ken Schultz Playground - Mount Austin - 124 votes
Option 1 - 66 - 53.22%
Option 2 - 2 - 1.61%
Option 3 - 56 - 45.16%
Ray Beddoe Playground - Lake Albert - 227 votes
Option 1 - 186 - 81.93%
Option 2 - 29 - 12.77%
Option 3 - 12 - 5.28%
Lloyd Playground - Lloyd - 182 votes
Option 1 - 94 - 51.64%
Option 2 - 58 - 31.86%
Option 3 - 30 - 16.48%
