THE Bellingen Shire Council has successfully applied for funding to upgrade the existing Connell Park and Dangar Falls Play Spaces under the NSW Government’s Everyone Can Play grant program.

At the heart of the Everyone Can Play program is the conviction that play is for everyone – regardless of age, ability or cultural background.

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It is based on the three principles of Can I Get There? Can I Play? and Can I Stay? and its focus is to create more inclusive play spaces.

The upgrade of the Connell Park Play Space will take place in two stages with stage one expected to commence mid-March with replacement of non-complying playground equipment, adjustments to the existing soft fall, creation of natural play elements, and the initial stage of an inclusive footpath connection.

Additional works to connect the proposed footpath around the extended play space will be built as part of stage two and a new fence will be installed around the space.

Connell Park playground will close for 8-10 weeks to allow upgrade work to be done safely.

The upgrade to the Dangar Falls Reserve playground will see the existing playground moved further into the reserve away from the new Dangar Falls Viewing Platform.

It will create more space for people to sit, take in the surrounds, enjoy a picnic under the existing shade sails or supervise children at the playground.

New play equipment will be installed featuring natural elements, such as stepping stones, balance beams, boulders and a new sandstone block retaining wall around the play space.

A new footpath around the playground will improve accessibility to the barbecue shelter and amenities, while an additional shade sail will extend the shaded area.

Construction at Dangar Falls should commence the second week of March (weather permitting) with the playground closed for about ten weeks.

For information on the Everyone Can Play program and its design principles, go to https://www.everyonecanplay.nsw.gov.au/

By Susan KONTIC