A new park nestled in Googong suburbia might look normal to everyday eyes, but thanks to careful design it caters to children of all abilities.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Lovegrove Park opened on Tuesday, May 24, and consists of specially designed equipment to allow children with disabilities to access the playground.
Landscape manager for Googong, Matthew Frawley, said designing a park like this is about making sure there is a range of equipment for kids across a spectrum of abilities.
"Kids in wheelchairs have things that their wheelchairs can come up to and then they can climb into.
"Or kids that don't have the ability to walk without assistance, maybe there's rocks at the right height for them to sit on, or things that they can hold onto.
"That sort of thing helps all kids access the equipment, not just kids with disabilities."
Mr Frawley said his favourite piece of equipment there was the slide.
"There's a bit of challenge, it goes fast, rather than slow, and it's hard to climb up - but a bit harder for the older people than the young!" he said.
The colourful totem poles that mark the fenceline were painted by student from Anglican School Googong.
Googong Project Director, Malcolm Leslie, said the design of Lovegrove Park highlights the township's commitment to social inclusion within the Googong Community.
Mr Leslie has worked in the urban development industry for 25 years and said designing playgrounds is one of the really fun parts of the job.
"I describe it to my kids as it's a bit like playing Sim City, but there's no undo button."