More spaces to play

LAST week’s reopening of Sparrow Park following recent renewal works marked a significant occasion for some of the younger residents of the Brownbill Ward.

For that matter, kids across the entire Greater Geelong region would have been delighted with this, such is Sparrow Park’s popularity.

The renewal project incorporated design modifications derived from themes identified during last year’s consultation period, which saw major input from the community.

This included more than 3,497 people visiting the Sparrow Park Playground renewal Have Your Say page, with 623 contributions received.

Remarkably, nearly half of respondents (49 per cent) said they travel more than one kilometre to access the playground, while 40 per cent said they access the park weekly, which highlights its status as one of the premier meeting spots for parents, families and young children.

I am so grateful to all of those people who provided feedback, as it served as a great reference point for officers in designing this space to ensure it met the needs of the community.

Upgrades have seen new equipment installed and additional trees planted for shade.

These works are vital as Council understands the importance not only of providing play spaces that are easily accessible to residents – with equipment that is both entertaining and testing – but also of maintaining high and safe Australian standards.

Sparrow Park has long been a valued spot for families and serves as one of 380 public play spaces managed and maintained by the City of Greater Geelong.

With ample open space for a range of recreational activities including junior skate/scooter area, basketball, and netball facilities, as well as the extensive playground, it also has a large lawn area with rugby posts alongside quality social and picnic facilities such as a rotunda, barbecues, toilets and walking paths.

I am so pleased to see these works complete, and thought this would be a worthwhile opportunity to remind the community about our current engagement campaign.

The City of Greater Geelong is in the process of seeking community feedback on eight local playgrounds that will be upgraded as part of the City’s annual playground renewal program.

The playgrounds include Detroit Reserve, Corio; Talona Reserve, Corio; Janet Reserve, Newcomb; Lancaster Reserve, Newcomb; Sundial Reserve, Clifton Springs; Empress Reserve, Ocean Grove (swing installation only); Waurn Ponds Tennis Reserve, Waurn Ponds; and Ceres Recreation Reserve, Ceres.

In accordance with the City’s Play Strategy, the renewal program will make sure each of the playgrounds has somewhere for visitors to run, swing, slide and climb, as well as receive an update of the existing play equipment.

The installation of the new playgrounds is scheduled for the second quarter of 2024, but in the meantime, I would encourage residents to visit the Have Your Say page to view the playground plans and share your thoughts.

You can do this via the website – yoursay.geelongaustralia.com.au/2024LPR – and the survey should only take a few minutes to complete.

The survey closes at 5pm on March 27, so jump online and let us know what you would like to see.

Cr Peter Murrihy

Brownbill Ward,

City of Greater Geelong