Spring celebrations for Victoria Park

After a winter in partial hibernation, Victoria Park bursts into life with the opening of a new state-of-the-art playground and upgraded sports fields in the west of the reserve.

New play equipment was installed following removal of contaminated soil discovered under trees near the playground late last year.

The playground opens today and among other things features:

a see saw snake
a junior adventure unit with a slide
a fantail round-a-bout
two spinning "super novas"
a play unit for intermediate aged children
a set of six swings.
In addition, there are eel and frog sculptures, new picnic tables, paths and rubbish bins.

Sand carpet work to renew the drainage and durability of the sports fields in the west of the reserve is also nearing completion.

This work involved the installation of drainage and resanding and the western fields will open for public use from the end of October.

Sand-based sports fields provide better winter playing conditions with fewer field closures, but can slowly deteriorate as earthworms mix soil into the sand profile, reducing its ability to drain effectively. Approximately every 10 years the playing surfaces require renewal work to the sand and drainage systems to restore them to top condition.

The chairperson of the Arts, Culture and Recreation Committee, Councillor Penny Sefuiva, says the work will help to make Victoria Park the ultimate central city recreation destination.

"Victoria Park is a haven for inner-city residents, workers, sports teams and children," Ms Sefuiva says.

"These recent works have limited use at the reserve over the past few months, but I’m excited that the playground and some of the sports fields will be open for the summer.

"The playground is state-of-the-art and will give local children many hours of enjoyment for years to come, while the improved drainage of the sports fields will enhance the experience for cricket and league teams."

Deputy Mayor Dr Bruce Hucker says work to remove the contaminated soil from the playground means parents and children can now use the area with confidence.

"The council has removed more than 1700 cubic metres of contaminated soil from under the trees near the playground and installed specialised barrier matting beneath the trees and across the entire play area, to provide a long-term solution that ensures this site is safe," Dr Hucker says.

"I’d like to thank the adults and children who use the playground for their patience during these works and encourage them to make the most of the site now it’s upgraded."

Fields in the east of the park will be closed from November for a similar drainage and sand carpet upgrade.

The eastern fields will reopen in 2008 once new turf cover is fully established.