Ocean Grove children can now explore more of the wonders of play following the renewal of the Empress Reserve Playground.
Updates to the playground were made in December and saw the addition of a swing set and monkey bars.
The new equipment was constructed as part of the City’s Play Strategy. Council identified Empress Playground as a space requiring additional equipment and took requests from the public into consideration ahead of the renewal.
The initial playground structure at Empress Reserve was built over a decade ago and has primarily catered to children ages three to seven.
Empress Playground was one of nine playground renewal projects funded by council’s annual Playground Renewals Program budget.
The renewal strategy sought to ensure existing playgrounds in our city can offer children a place to run, swing, climb and slide.
Other playground renewals have taken place at Ceres Recreation Reserve in Ceres, Detroit Reserve in Corio, Janet Reserve in Newcomb, Lancaster Reserve in Newcomb, Talona Reserve in Corio and Waurn Ponds Tennis Recreation Reserve in Waurn Ponds, Sundial Reserve in Clifton Springs and Richmond Oval in Geelong, most of which were finalised last month.
Community engagement for the renewal works across the playgrounds was fundamental to the project’s success.
Feedback was open to the public in February and March of 2024 to ensure the needs of the community were met.
Safe Play Australia worked on the renewal of Empress Playground to guarantee the new equipment would offer families a compliant and safe space for children to use ahead of the school holidays, with the swing set and monkey bars built upon a playground safe tan bark surface.
The works at Empress Playground were completed in early December, meaning families had the chance to relax and enjoy the space throughout the holiday break.
Having lived in the Bellarine myself for over two decades, it’s wonderful to see new generations of children enjoying our parks and playgrounds.
These spaces offer an opportunity for young people to learn key physical and developmental skills on the equipment while also enjoying time in the great outdoors.
The City has always recognised the importance of providing children with safe spaces to play.
Council manages over 380 public playgrounds, all reviewed for upgrades every year.
These playground renewals ensure that future generations of children in Ocean Grove and across the region can revel in the wonder of play in a safe and family-friendly environment.
These spaces provide challenging and stimulating environments that allow children to explore decision making and opportunities for endless exploration.
We are so fortunate to live in a region that offers places for our young imaginations to wander, and these renewals will provide more opportunities for our youngest little explorers to spend quality time outdoors with family and friends for generations to come.
