Council has been allocated$75,000 as part of the final round of the NSW Government’s Everyone Can Play Program. The funding will go towards upgrading some playground equipment at Marie Bashir Park’s adventure playground to ensure the playground encourages inclusive play.

Inclusive playspaces consider as many needs as possible. They provide a welcoming place where people feel comfortable yet challenged and remove obstacles and barriers that prevent people of all ages, cultural backgrounds and abilities (both physical and mental) from playing. Inclusive playspaces provide access to a variety of play experiences people enjoy together.

As part of the grant requirements Council is required to provide a concept plan complete with costs to ensure the project met the key principles of inclusive play spaces:

Can I get there?

Consideration to location, layout, signage, wayfinding, and accessibility to ensure everyone can find their way to, in and around the playspace.

Can I play?

The play experience, including the equipment and surfacing, allowing everyone to experience a variety of challenging and engaging play opportunities in a way that suits them.

Can I stay?

Considering safety, facilities, landscape, and the wider environment to ensure everyone can stay at the playspace for as long as they would like.

The concept design replaces the existing flying fox with a double skyrider 30 metres long. The concept also includes the installation of carousel and balance beams connecting the new and existing play spaces with the orientation path. The concept is designed to fit in with Marie Bashir Park whilst not taking away the unique amenity value of the area. Rubberised soft fall and minor landscaping will also be part of the concept.

Council is now seeking the community’s feedback for this concept. The feedback will be used to establish priorities, identify cultural considerations and the community’s expectations, whilst ensuring the project can met the objectives and expectations of the grant program.

Feedback will be open until 4pm Monday 26 September 2022 to ensure equipment and materials can be ordered within a suitable timeframe.

Narrandera Shire Council are committed to providing quality inclusive play spaces for the community and will be applying for additional play equipment and soft fall when future funding opportunities become available.