Council swinging into spring with the opening of three renewed playgrounds

Sutherland Shire residents are set to benefit from a suite of upgrades to playground facilities in Alfords Point, Bangor and Menai as part of the latest series of projects completed under Council’s ongoing Playground Renewal Program.

Rejuvenated play spaces at Casuarina Road Oval Playground, Akuna Avenue Reserve Playground have progressively been reopened to local residents, with Colwyn Close Reserve Playground, a relocation of play facilities previously in place in Beaumaris Drive, set to open in coming weeks.

Sutherland Shire Mayor, Councillor Carmelo Pesce said these latest playground upgrades were further demonstration of Council’s commitment to investment in enhancing the region's recreational infrastructure.

“We know how highly residents value quality open spaces and recreational facilities, and this latest suite of upgraded playgrounds provide great new engaging play spaces for kids to get out and enjoy,” Mayor Pesce said.

“Wherever you live in the Sutherland Shire, we want to ensure local residents have access to a range of fun, engaging play areas, recreational and sports facilities that will support them to develop active lifestyles, and these upgraded playground facilities are a fantastic example of how this can be achieved.”

Mayor Pesce was joined by E Ward Councillors Laura Cowell, Steve Nikolovski and Peter Scaysbrook to officially open the new Casuarina Road Oval Playground, with local families also eager to join Councillors on site to test out the new facilities.

Upgraded facilities on site provide a range of attractions for local children to get climbing, sliding, swinging and enjoying natural play elements, with features catering to children aged two to 10 years old. Accompanied by softfall material and thoughtfully designed seating, landscaping, and access pathways, this revamped playground has already won the hearts of local families.

Bangor’s Akuna Avenue Reserve Playground has undergone a similar transformation, with a series of enhancements that complement existing equipment, catering to a broad range of age groups and abilities.

Colwyn Close Reserve Playground is scheduled for completion in coming weeks, having been relocated from Beaumaris Drive as a result of extensive community consultation. The central location is set to improve accessibility for the wider community, with new equipment accompanied by considered landscaping and dedicated seating areas.

Other playgrounds that Sutherland Shire residents can look forward to opening in 2023 include the highly anticipated Jelba Reserve in Bangor, due to be completed in late September, and the equally awaited Webber Street Reserve in Sylvania, scheduled to open in December.

As part of the Play Strategy and Implementation Plan, the ongoing Playground Renewal Program assess all Sutherland Shire playgrounds annually and prioritise those most in need of renewal. All playgrounds are assessed quarterly for safety and maintenance is carried out where required.

Council’s ongoing commitment to playground renewals represents a devotion to improving and maintaining outdoors spaces to cultivate active, vibrant communities that enrich the lives of residents.

For more information on Council’s playground renewal program, please visit Playground renewal program 2022-23.