Park recognised on national stage

STRATHDALE Park play space has been awarded as one of the top regional spaces in the country.

The park won the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects National/Chapter Landscape Architecture Award for Regional Achievement, and will compete in the AILA national awards later this year.

City of Greater Bendigo presentation and assets director Brian Westley said the award recognises the hard work put into the transformation, which started in 2015 and cost $745,000.

“While the City builds these assets for the community to enjoy it’s great that the work we are doing to make Greater Bendigo such a terrific place to live is recognised on a wider scale,” he said.

“I’m very proud of the staff from the City’s parks and open space and engineering units who were all involved in this project from conception to completion.

“The award also recognises the efforts of local artists and school children who contributed to the project.”

Stage one of the project involved installing a new slide, play and climbing equipment, a wheelchair carousel and a nature play area, while stage two saw a reconfiguring the carpark along Crook Street, the addition of a a five-way swing, and a former asphalt path becoming a “canvas for the colourful painting of native animals”.

later stage three works included more new play equipment, seating, shelters and a junior play area.

“As part of the stage three works, students from Kennington Primary School created beautiful, coloured mosaic tiles with the help of a local artist to decorate a large three-dimensional concrete gecko that wraps around the new sand pit,” Mr Westley said.

The AILA awards jury cited the success of the transformation, praising the leadership and advocacy of the project team.

“The Strathdale Park Play Space delivers a high level of play value for a relatively modest budget as a result of creative planning and leveraging the input and participation of the community,” the AILA jury said.

“The many hands involved, including six local artists, are evident in the visual quality of the play space; offering eclectic, imaginative play.”