Come to the Park Party (Mayor’s Column 28 September 2019)

Everyone is invited to celebrate the opening of the brand new West Coffs District Park on Wednesday, October 9, from 11.30am.

This has been such an exciting project with so much input from the community to make it a fantastic space for everyone – and I mean everyone! – so it will be amazing to have as many of you there as possible for the celebration.

Kids – bring your mums, dads, grandparents, dogs, a picnic or barbecue stuff, hats, water bottles or a thermos (there are bubblers for both humans and dogs, and barbecues on site) and something to sit on. It’s going to be fun!

A huge focus has been making sure that this is a truly inclusive place to play and enjoy for all kids. There is a variety of play opportunities, from the wheelchair carousel, accessible swings and double mound slide, challenging play climbing rocks, balance ropes and flying fox, plus some great creative/imaginative play options with a giant tractor. And there are the all-important shade sails.

The barbecue and picnic tables are wheelchair accessible, there is an accessible toilet as well as two ambulant toilets, accessible parking. Paths are wheelchair and ambulant friendly and the play areas have rubber surfacing.

This is all complemented with parking, a community noticeboard, tree plantings, a separate, fenced dog off-leash area and a new pedestrian/cycle bridge linking William Sharp Drive to Loaders Lane.

I’d like to thank the local working group participants from Naranga Primary School and Orara High School students for their involvement in the planning and design of this project and the Access Committee and Early Connections staff.

I’d also like to give another thank you to the local dog trainers and other dog lovers – and their pets – for the help in designing the new dog-only spaces!

Funding for the new park came from $1m in developer contributions from new subdivisions in the West Coffs area and a $200,000 grant from the NSW Government’s ‘Everyone Can Play’ programme.

Local contractor Burnett Civil carried out the works, with local suppliers and sub-contractors also involved in the construction.