Wellington Square Playground - opens to the public
Perth's newest and most exciting inner-city park - Wellington Square or Moort-ak Waadiny - is officially open to the public.
An initiative of the City of Perth, the $17.5 million upgrade took just over 12 months to complete.
The City of Perth envisions the newly-constructed Wellington Square to be a hub for residents, visitors, families and friends to meet, celebrate, adventure and explore.
Located in East Perth, the park boasts a new intergenerational playground supported by a $4.37 million grant from Lotterywest and a place of reflection in the north-west corner of Wellington Square to commemorate the Stolen Generations.
New amenities also include event spaces for medium to large scale activities and multi-use sporting fields designed in consultation with nearby schools and sporting clubs. With 350 new trees and 60 per cent canopy cover, the park also features expansive shade and greenery.
"A place for everyone to connect, climb, explore, create and relax, we envision people of all ages from both the local area and across the wider state enjoying the park's expansive offerings," City of Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas said.
"It will uphold the vision of Perth as a great place to be, providing a safe, clean and attractive area for the community, city workers, visitors and tourists."
The star attraction of the park is the 3000m2 intergenerational playground Koolangka Koolangka Waabiny, one of the biggest playgrounds in greater Perth.
Meaning Children Children's playground in Whadjuk Nyoongar, the area features nature play, a skate park, parkour activities, a flying fox, embankment slides, a pump track, waterplay and climbing towers, as well as basketball courts.
The theme for the community playground is 'Landscape of Play' and the design is influenced by Aboriginal themes and Western Australian iconic landforms.
The park also features an off-leash dog park, new footpaths and shaded picnic areas for relaxation. New lighting and CCTV will also ensure the safety of the park into the evening.
Wellington Square represents cultural and spiritual significance, linking the past and the present, where Whadjuk Nyoongar people met, raised families, hunted and performed ceremonies.
Both the park and playground have received dual names in recognition of Wellington Square's significance to many members of the Aboriginal community, and out of respect for the Traditional Owners and custodians of the land.
