CHILDREN of the region have received an early Christmas present with the new riverside adventure playground set to open tomorrow.
Contractors have put the finishing touches on the new Riverside Park playground during the past three days and the playground will be open by the end of tomorrow.
The playground features an 8.7-metre high play tower, the first of its kind in Victoria, a 40-metre long double flying fox — one side will be a traditional standing style, the other a seated, and a gyro swing with river views.
Other elements include a giant sandpit with boat, water pump and accessible digger, lots of natural play elements, including climbing rocks and logs and timber balance beams, plus recycled materials from the Pioneer Settlement.
Meanwhile, a large barbecue shelter with insulated roof for extra comfort in the summer will be available. Custom-designed Aboriginal artwork by Sandra Kropinyeri, made into laser cut elements for the barbecue shelter, forest of fun play area, the play tower and welcome signage will also be featured.
Swan Hill council mayor Bill Moar said the playground was an exciting addition to the growing list of attractions at Riverside Park.
“For many years the community has been asking council to make use of our region’s best asset — the river. We have been steadily delivering on projects to bring more people and more life to the riverfront,” Cr Moar said.
“We’ve opened the new boat ramp, toilet block and skate park; the Yamagata garden is almost complete and this adventure playground will be a real highlight.”
Cr Moar said almost all the contractors involved in the project were local, and worked together well with council to get the playground open before Christmas.
“Anyone who went past the site over the past fortnight would have seen the huge amount of activity happening on site and we thank Whitfield Excavations and their sub-contractors for going above and beyond, especially in this week’s hot weather,” he said.
A number of features will be complete in the new year, including new tables and seating in the barbecue area, the shade sail over the sandpit will be installed and a small section of pathway near the tower will be poured.
More trees will be planted in garden beds and welcome signage installed.
Work will also take place in the new year to complement the new playground, including a two-metre wide concrete path connecting the playground and skate park to the canoe club building and new lighting.
The adventure playground was a $850,000 project funded by Regional Development Victoria, the federal building better regions fund and council.
