Moulden Park Primary School students will soon see their playground designs come to life.

In 2019, year three students presented to Council their vision and goals for their local playground, Tiverton Park, their local playground.  The students highlighted the importance of upgrades and shared their views on what makes a great playground, for everyone in the neighbourhood to visit and enjoy. 

The school children identified playground elements and equipment and designed their vision for the layout of the play space. Based on the collaboration with the year three students, Tiverton Park is set to be upgraded in 2021 and will include the following fun and engaging elements:

•    ‘Play Alive Spider’, a traditional climbing frame with an inbuilt monitor for interactive electronic games,
•    20 metre high, single cable flying fox,
•    three play zones (including an exercise space for the adults), 
•    revitalised basketball court; and 
•    a public barbeque area for the Palmerston community to enjoy.

Mayor Athina Pascoe-Bell presented the students with the final concept drawings in December 2020.

“The children were incredibly proud to see how their input was incorporated into the new design and they loved sharing their playground ideas with us. With over 75 playgrounds in Palmerston, we place high importance on providing accessible play spaces to families and children. 

“Playgrounds provide children with the opportunity to not only be active, but to engage with others and adapt to new skills and surrounds. It is also a great way for parents to socialise,” she said.

Phyllis Uren Park in Farrar will also be undergoing a redesign, with new play equipment and opportunities for nature-based play through the retained bushland area.

Joan Fejo Park in Rosebery and George Park in Johnston were subject to vandalism in August last year and will be rebuilt in the coming months. In addition to replacing damaged equipment and shade, Council is using this opportunity to value add to the play spaces by including a universal access play option and additional shading.

Accompanying these upgrades is the development of a Play Space Strategy for Palmerston to provide direction in the planning, improvement, and implementation of playgrounds within the community. The strategy will be developed to inform future play experiences that continue to support the developmental needs of children and the wellbeing of the Palmerston community.

The Palmerston Play Space Strategy will commence community consultation in March 2021.

For further information on the existing parks in Palmerston, visit www.palmerston.nt.gov.au.

Image: Artist impressions of the upgrades to Tiverton Park and Phyllis Uren Park