WHAT’S ON AT ARMSTRONG: More of the great outdoors

Armstrong Mount Duneed’s complement of parks and playgrounds continues to increase with the latest addition in the Stage 24 precinct.

The new park gives kids and parents yet another chance to engage with the great outdoors in a healthy and challenging environment.

Getting kids off their devices and outside is so important during the holiday period, indeed throughout the year.

More than ever, kids need the opportunity to test themselves as they grow and feel the sun on their shoulders.

They need to suck in the air, smell the breeze and get some dirt on the knees and their elbows. They need to take a few risks.

The parks at Villawood’s Armstrong – at Bunjil’s Nest beside Club Armstrong, the newly-opened reserve in the Sanctuary precinct, the Aviation Drive playground with its soaring Folko Kooper hybrid bird planes, Pencil Park along Armstrong Boulevard, and now at the latest park on Eaton Road – are all geared to teaching kids the fun and beauty of exercise and nature.

This is all just one part of Villawood’s deeply-entrenched community engagement priority. Getting kids together with other kids, getting parents together with other parents, in an environment where they can make new, lasting friendships while experiencing healthy lifestyles.

These expert-designed, state-of-theart parks are complemented by more than 30km of walking and cycling tracks, 24 hectares of parks, wetlands, sporting fields and green spaces.

Together, they’re also all part of why Villawood Properties received the coveted Community Engagement Award at the Urban Development Institute of Australia’s excellence awards late last year. And also why landscape architect
Barry Murphy, who designed the Armstrong parks, took out the UDIA’s consultants award.

If you’re looking for other activities and events over the summer don’t forget:
• The fabulous Spiegeltent circus extravaganza at Barwon Heads until the end of January.
• Torquay’s exciting Nightjar markets on Thursday nights.
• Geelong’s giant Skywheel along the Waterfront.
• The Great Ocean Paddle 20km race along the Surf Coast on February 3.