Swings, a stand-up spinner, and a sandpit are some of the equipment at a new play space in Darley opened this month.
Unveiled on Wednesday, July 2, the Darley Park Play Space’s design offers children, parents, guardians, and carers a place to play, explore, and spend time together.
The shared playground includes accessible and all-ages focused equipment, including swings, climbing frames, rockers, a stand-up spinner, and a sandpit.
The design also allows easy mobility for adults as they provide supervision.
Works were inspired by research for Moorabool’s Darley Park Master Plan, which identified a need for a shared playground where children and their caregivers could spend time together.
The council’s research identified that almost 700 people aged 55 years and older were providing unpaid childcare for someone else’s children in Darley, Bacchus Marsh and Maddingley, and that the area was home to many families with children of all ages.
The project cost over $800,000, with Moorabool receiving $200,000 towards it from a state regional grants program in 2022.
Moorabool mayor Paul Tatchell said that the council received a lot of fantastic responses when asking the community what they would d like to see in the playground, which has resulted in an inter-generational space for all family members to use.
Eureka MP Michaela Settle said that the new play space is a celebration of community.
“[It’s] a place where kids of all ages can explore and play, and where parents, grandparents and carers can connect. It’s a wonderful example of what happens when we invest in projects that truly reflect the needs of local families,” Ms Settle said.
