Council has reopened three renewed playspaces in Mooroolbark and Mount Evelyn, and a new space in Kilsyth, giving families and children of all ages fun new places to explore.
Council recently finished construction on new playgrounds in Bimbadeen Reserve in Mooroolbark, Mount Evelyn Recreation Reserve and Kemp Reserve in Mount Evelyn, along with a new playspace at Kilsyth Recreation Reserve.
Yarra Ranges Mayor, Cr Richard Higgins, said the playspaces would encourage community members to get active outdoors.
"I'm excited to announce that these playgrounds have opened - we know there were plenty of young locals itching for the fences to come down," Cr Higgins said.
"Through our engagement process, the community told us they wanted to see features like nature play, accessible equipment, shade, seating, and climbing equipment, with an emphasis on improving accessibility for people of different ages and abilities.
"I'm pleased to say that each of these projects responds to what we heard and will be great places for friends and families to meet for a catch up, a chat, or a play.
"With our communities growing, playspaces and community parks are more important than ever to encourage physical activity, play and exercise, and to provide spaces for socialising."
Bimbadeen Reserve's upper playspace includes a swing set, spinner, combination unit with timber elements, monkey bars, a climbing wall, with landscaping and seating. The lower playspace includes a refurbished swing set, teepee, nature elements and seating.
Mount Evelyn Recreation Reserve has received a new combination unit with junior and senior slides, an in-ground trampoline, accessible spinner, swing set, monkey bars, nature elements and seating. The picnic tables have also been refurbished and connected with an accessible path.
At Kemp Reserve, five separate pieces of play equipment were installed amongst the trees, including a slide, rope climbing spinner, a mini flying fox, a set of swings, monkey bars, nature play elements, a picnic table set, seats and a drinking fountain.
Kilsyth Recreation Reserve's playspace features a new combination unit and slide, climbing wall and monkey bars, an accessible spinner, net climbing cube, swings and a seesaw, with landscaping, a drinking fountain, picnic tables and an accessible path.
Council also planted trees at some of the reserves which will bring a pleasant natural shade over the coming years.
The Kilsyth playspace renewal was funded with $280,000 from the Federal Government's Investing in our Community program, with contributions from Council.
All three renewal projects were fully-funded by Council.
"I'd like to thank the Federal Government for their generous support of the Kilsyth Recreation Reserve playspace renewal," Cr Higgins said.
"These playspaces will be places where local kids grow up, where people meet up with friends, or make new ones. These are the places where we make memories and connect to our communities, and I think these playspaces will be cherished for years."
