The history of Campbelltown's sister city relationship with Koshigaya will be honoured as part of a major upgrade to the Koshigaya Park playground.
Construction has now started on the $2.5 million upgrade, with the centrepiece of the new playground an origami crane-themed play structure that will provide a unique space for children to enjoy a variety of play elements.
The origami crane features a slide, a variety of climbing nets, a basket swing, jungle ropes, a talking tube, a xylophone and a pommel crossing, while 20 cherry blossom trees will be planted around the playground alongside a series of native plantings.
"This new playground will be a fun and exciting space for kids to explore and enjoy all different kinds of play, while celebrating Campbelltown's special relationship with Koshigaya through the unique origami crane play structure," Mayor of Campbelltown Darcy Lound said.
"Koshigaya Park is Campbelltown's busiest park, with families enjoying picnics, birthday parties and special occasions all year round, so I'm excited that this upgrade will provide modern new play equipment to enhance what is a fantastic and important public space," Cr Lound said.
"Our sister city relationship with Koshigaya has contributed enormously to our city for more than 40 years so this is a great way to honour the enduring friendship between our two cities," he said.
Other features include a flying fox, an embankment play area, a carousel, a swing set and an in-ground trampoline.
Cr Lound said the playground design incorporated feedback from the community to include play equipment such as the Flying Fox, in-ground trampolines and climbing play elements as well as picnic shelters and shade from tree plantings.
"There was significant interest in this project during the community consultation phase with hundreds of people sharing their ideas and I'd like to thank everyone who helped to shape the design of this fantastic new playground," he said.
Artwork to mark 40 years of friendship
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Campbelltown's sister city relationship with Koshigaya, new entrance signage will be installed at Koshigaya Park featuring artwork by Japanese contemporary artist Midori Furze.
The artwork, titled Fold with Love, features a series of unfolded origami doves to showcase the origami-making process, alongside stylised wording to greet visitors, which will include the origami dove in its finals form.
The signage will be accompanied by a Möbius Ring sculpture, symbolising the long-lasting friendship between the two cities.
The soft-fall base of the monument has been designed in a pattern that represents the 5 main rivers that flow through Koshigaya.
The project is funded by Council and is expected to be completed by mid-2026.
