New Playgrounds
Friday, 2 March 2007
Two distinctive playgrounds will be installed in Palmerston North from early April following valuable feedback from surrounding neighbours.
The junior playgrounds for children up to eight years of age will be erected in Hokowhitu Domain and Farnham Reserve, Takaro and will be completed by the end of the financial year (June 30).
When the Council approved their installation to replace existing playgrounds, staff consulted residents in the immediate vicinity through personal visits and a leaflet drop.
In all 190 leaflets were distributed around Farnham Reserve and 110 around Hokowhitu Domain and recommendations from people were incorporated into the final design.
Leisure Assets Officer, Callum Brown, says both playgrounds will be timber constructed, have a rubberised safety surface and the design incorporates other amenities such as trees, shrubs and outdoor furniture.
The most popular suggestions from residents were to include swings, slides and climbing structures in both playgrounds.
“We set out to make them inviting and lots of fun for children and for families to enjoy,”Callum says. “Once the playgrounds are in place, the Council will progressively improve the immediate surroundings with trees, seating, paths and litter bins.”Â
The cost of the project is $60,000 and the two replacements will complete the playground upgrades for 2006/2007.
A further two renewals are proposed for the city with a destination youth playground (similar to the one recently installed at Milverton Park) planned for Rangitane Park in Awapuni during the 2007/2008 financial year.
