The Strathdale Park Play Space, which was completed in August 2019, has won the Parks and Leisure Australia VIC/TAS Play Space award of excellence for a play space over $500,000.
This is the second consecutive win for the City of Greater Bendigo who also took out the same category in 2019 for the Eaglehawk Regional Play Space.
For over 20 years Parks and Leisure Australia (PLA) has recognised excellence in the parks and leisure industry through its awards program. The PLA Awards of Excellence aim to promote and encourage best industry practice and recognise achievements and outstanding work of individuals and teams employed in the parks and leisure industry.
City of Greater Bendigo Director of Presentation and Assets Debbie Wood said the City is delighted that the PLA has acknowledged the City’s efforts through this very prestigious and much sought after, award.
“The award is fantastic recognition of the creativity, planning, and community collaboration that went into developing and constructing the play space,” Ms Wood said.
“The planning, design and construction of the play space was very much a collaborative effort from staff from throughout the City’s operations who take great pride in producing facilities that the community can be proud of.
“The upgrade of the play space along with its new landscaping and shade shelters has provided exciting new play opportunities and outdoor activities for children of all ages and abilities.”
“The City has made a serious investment in this play space which is one of our most visited recreation areas and it’s great to see it’s been recognised by the PLA in this way.
The $745,000 transformation of the Strathdale Park Play Space commenced in 2015 and was undertaken in three stages over several Council budgets.
Stage one included some exciting new additions to the play space including a new combination play unit complete with a spiral tube slide and multiple climbing opportunities. Other equipment installed included a wheelchair accessible carousel and a nature play area featuring a custom-made timber play hive and gigantic gumnuts.
Stage two included the reconfiguration of the carpark along Crook Street to allow for the installation of the very popular five-way swing. During this stage the former asphalt path received a makeover to become a canvass for the colourful painting of native animals.
Stage three works included installation of new junior play equipment, a water play area, shade shelters and seating. As part of the stage three works, students from Kennington Primary School created beautiful coloured mosaic tiles with the help of a local artist to decorate the large three-dimensional concrete gecko that is a feature of the water play area. Local children also participated in a pebble making workshop to create blue textured pebbles that are embedded into the water channel that meanders its way through the space.
