Christmas arrived early in Wollongong on Monday with the opening of the Stuart Park All Ages All Abilities playground in what is believed to be the first of its kind in the world.
The playground has been finished nearly four months ahead of schedule and was given the seal of approval from the adults and children who gave it a test run at the official opening.
University of Wollongong Associate Professor, Dr Shoshana Dreyfus, came up with the idea for the project nearly five years ago, inspired by her son Bodhi’s love of playgrounds.
The Disability Trust collaborated with the University and Wollongong City Council to make the vision become a reality and with the help of state and federal funding as well as support from many individuals, community groups and organisations, the playground is now open.
Generous sponsors, including Multiplex, the IMB Community Foundation, Wests Illawarra, Aurizon Community Giving Fund and SCE also made significant financial contributions.
With Stage 1 of the playground now complete, there are plans to make it even bigger and better. The playground features:
- A large trampoline big enough for a wheelchair, adults and small groups of children
- Multiple swings to cater to different ages and needs covered by a large shade sail
- A human-sized mouse wheel featuring artwork created by young adults with disability and Indigenous elders Aunty Lorraine Brown and Aunty Narelle Thomas
- A Paperbark Forest Maze that offers a sensory experience through natural elements
- A rocky gorge made up of large sandstone slabs
- Balance beams to master balance and coordination
- A carousel with an accessible platform to accommodate wheelchairs
- A sensory garden for people to touch and smell a variety of textural plants
- A large sensory sculpture created by Perth artist Denise Pepper and donated by Dr Dreyfus
- New accessible parking for minibuses and vehicles
- Updated picnic facilities and a new water refill station
“But playgrounds are built for 0-12-year-olds, and I thought that he and his mates should have a playground that’s the right size for them and which is designed with their needs in mind.
“That is exactly what this playground is and I am so grateful to everyone who has supported this playground.
“It’s amazing to now see it open. I can’t believe it. I pinch myself that my crazy January idea of 2019 is actually a reality.”
Dr Dreyfus said the key aspect of the playground was that it was “disability friendly” so that the size of the equipment meant it had weight-bearing capacity for young adults and that people in wheelchairs could access the play areas.
“We think it’s a world first. Neither Council nor us, we haven’t been able to find an adult-sized playground that is not a fitness playground,” she added.
The Disability Trust CEO Carol Berry said the organisation was proud to have been part of this project.
“This is a visionary idea, and it’s wonderful to see it come to life,” she said.
“We hope that the park brings joy to people with disability and their families. It’s absolutely fantastic that our Council, MPs and other stakeholders have been so supportive of this initiative – it says a great deal about the community.
“Inclusion fundamentally is an emotional experience – you feel valued, you feel welcomed and that’s what this park means to the people of the Illawarra.
“Our sponsors have been incredibly generous – Multiplex, Wests Illawarra, IMB, Aurizon and the Department of Industry, Science and Energy, SCE, Stripe and Bunnings. Without your incredible support, today would not have come to fruition.”
The multi-sensory artwork, created by award-winning Perth sculptor Denise Pepper, is entitled Sequential Reflections and is designed to make noise and elicit reactions from people.
“When the wind picks up, it shimmers everywhere. When you look in it, there’s many different reflections of yourself and the environment around you,” she explained.
Wollongong City Lord Mayor, Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM, said he was pleased to see the playground open in time for the summer school holidays.
“This adds an inclusive, well-designed play space that we can all be proud of as part of our desire to make our city’s facilities more accessible for everyone,” he said.
“I think our community, as well as visitors to Stuart Park, will love this new playground that sits alongside the existing space and creates a level playing field, so to speak, for everyone.”
Member for Cunningham, Alison Byrnes MP, said it is incredibly important to have inclusive play spaces in the region.
“Now that it’s complete, local families in Wollongong can experience the exciting spaces now on offer.”
NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Paul Scully MP, said the NSW Government provided $450,000 for the Stuart Park playground upgrades.
“The Everyone Can Play program is delivering universally designed places for everyone in our community to enjoy.”
Australian Government funding of $500,000 was provided through the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI) Program. This Program supports local councils to deliver priority local road and community infrastructure projects across the nation, supporting jobs and delivering benefits to local communities. The NSW Government is contributing $450,000 to the Stuart Park All Ages All Abilities project as part of a wider $20 million commitment to inclusive playspaces.
