The Tweed Shire Council is very happy to unveil a new playground at Fingal Foreshore Park that celebrates the rich cultural history of the Tweed coastal village.
The new inclusive playground is ready for action and is a great place for kids to play and for families travelling through the area to stop and explore Fingal Head.
Located on Marine Drive, next to the Fingal Rovers Surf Life Saving Club, the new playground is the third play space of its kind in the Tweed, with two more to come including a regional inclusive play space at Jack Evans Boat Harbour and a district play space at Recreation Ground in Tweed Heads.
Everyone Can Play program
These new inclusive play spaces have been made possible through the NSW Government’s Everyone Can Play Program. For this project in Fingal Head, Council received a $107,000 grant with Council contributing an additional $220,000.
Council’s Manager Parks and Active Communities Murray Smith thanked the local Fingal Head community for working so closely with Council officers on the design of this new inclusive park. ‘Council partnered with the local community to create a recreational space that will be more inclusive of everyone. While the process has been lengthy, the outcome has been worth the wait.
‘I am really looking forward to seeing families and friends enjoying this new play space – a great example of designing a play space for children of all abilities.
‘An inclusive play space means it is easy for people to get to the playground and access the play equipment, there are a variety of items that everyone can interact with, and there is natural shade and seating that allows families or carers to stay longer.’
Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Assessment
Planning for the play space commenced in 2019. The site was the subject of an Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Assessment (ACHA), which improved the understanding, identification, and assessment of Aboriginal cultural heritage values within the site and Fingal Head area.
The play space is designed to reflect Fingal Head’s history and character through art, play and interpretive signage and has a natural look and blends in with the surrounds.
The upgraded play space features new play equipment that caters for 2 to 12-year-olds, including climbing equipment, swings, interactive play panels and slides, an accessible carousel, accessible seating, a yarning circle, drinking fountain, linking pathways, additional trees and landscaping and accessible parking.
The playground also includes nature play such as timber hopping logs, balance beams, a timber climbing net and water pump.
Fingal Head Public School decorated art poles
Students from Fingal Head Public School were invited to decorate a series of art poles within the play space, adding a splash of colour and a series of painted fish to feature poles. They did an amazing job of brightening up the play space with their colourful designs.
Mr Smith said Council was always looking for ways to expand and improve on its recreation facilities and to promote healthy and active living. ‘We want to make it easy for local families to spend some quality time together outdoors.
‘Providing quality playgrounds and opportunities that encourage community connections is a big part of that. These public open spaces make our neighbourhoods more vibrant, fun and active.’
The regional inclusive playground at Jack Evans Boat Harbour will also open for play ahead of the Christmas holidays. Final touches including landscaping and linking pathways will complete the park’s revamp by the end of December.
The official ribbon-cutting event for the opening of the two inclusive play spaces in Fingal Head and Tweed Heads is scheduled for February 2023.
Find out more about the Fingal Foreshore Park project and its history at yoursaytweed.com.au/fingal-
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