Construction of the new Curtis Park playground will get underway today, with Council’s updated designs to include additional play equipment in response to community feedback.
Contractor Moduplay will begin excavations at the site and is expected to complete the playground by the end of October.
The finalised layout for the new Armidale playground now includes a Bushwood Balance Trail and Tropicana Bungalow, two top-ranking items in a recent community survey inviting residents to identify their preferred additions to the playground.
Armidale resident Cara Andersen said we’re very excited about the commencement of the park. The bungalow was a top preference of ours and it’s great to see it will be featured in the playground.
“The playground is a great addition for Armidale and will encourage people to stay and play in the town,” she said.
“Hundreds of residents shared their opinions in the survey, ranking a shortlist of equipment for possible inclusion and giving fantastic input to the finished playground design,” Council’s Chief Executive Officer, Susan Law, said.
“Our project team has worked closely with play equipment specialists Moduplay Group to develop a design that incorporates as many features as possible within the available budget and meets the needs of children of all ages.
“Moduplay has constructed exciting, high-quality playgrounds throughout metropolitan and regional Australia. Its involvement in this project is helping to give us maximum bang for our buck in what we see an initial stage towards a revitalised family entertainment precinct in the heart of Armidale.”
Ms Law said Council is committed to continual investment in that precinct, in line with the community’s visions for Curtis Park, the surrounding creeklands and Armidale CBD.
“Respondents to the playground survey also shared their ideas about future expansion of the playground precinct, to further develop a community asset and regional drawcard that reflects the natural beauty and character of this area,” she said.
“The State Government’s $999,700 contribution to the current playground project, thanks to invaluable support from Adam Marshall, is an exciting first step towards a truly regional facility and community hub.”
Residents can view the community feedback on the playground at the Your Say Armidale website.
