Canterbury-Bankstown Area Opens First Inclusive Playground For Kids Of All Abilities

By: Alex Harmon, ellaslist 

Canterbury-Bankstown’s first all-abilities playground was officially opened by Mayor Khal Asfour last week making outdoor play more inclusive for all children. 

The $1.5m all-abilities playground was created with the Touched By Olivia Foundation and includes embankment slides; a double flying fox; a large tripod swing; a carousel; a roller table; a trampoline; a giant basket and cradle swings; treehouse; a climbing frame; sand and water play areas; sensory garden, complete with sculptures and other art work; pictorial messaging signage for non-verbal children; barbeques; and shade and seating.

Mayor Asfour said he was proud the new playground will make Canterbury-Bankstown an even more inclusive city.

“More than 23,100 residents – 6.7 per cent of the City’s population – need help in their day-to-day lives due to disability, including my own daughter” he said.

“As the father of a child with disability, it has long been my vision to establish a space that can be enjoyed by everyone, where there are no barriers.

“All our residents should be able to enjoy the simple pleasures that a play space provides, whether it’s our children playing on the double flying fox, mums and dads enjoying the barbeque and seating areas, or families of mixed abilities exploring the beautiful sensory garden together.”

Students from Bankstown Public, Bankstown South Infants, Bankstown Girls’ High and Canterbury-Bankstown special schools, who participated in the ‘imagineering’ and design for the playground, attended the official opening ceremony and were the first to test the new equipment.

The playground comes as the NSW Government moves to overhaul its design guidelines for public spaces to make playgrounds across the state more inclusive. The draft inclusive play space guidelines were created through a collaborative approach between the government, local councils, architects and the community. They are based on three simple questions: Can I get there? Can I play? Can I stay?

Where To Find It: Bankstown City Gardens, corner Restwell and Ross Streets, Bankstown

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