Grant allows for upgrades to a local playground in the Eurobodalla

More than $30,000 in funding has been provided to allow for a Tilba playground to receive a much-needed makeover.

The renovation was funded by a grant from the St Vincent De Paul Society presented to the Tilba District Chamber of Commerce, and completed with additional funding from the Eurodoballa Shire Council, allowing for the playground to receive a new slide, a climbing rope and a cubbyhouse.

The playground, located within the Harold Spindler Reserve on Bate Street also received a new paint job, a concrete floor and a blackboard for budding artists.

Tilba District Chamber of Commerce president Susan Gray said the playground brought exciting new features that complemented the heritage village.

“The playground is better than we expected, and the kids are loving it,” Ms Gray said.

“We are really grateful of Vinnies for providing the funding that was the catalyst for this project and to the team at Eurobodalla Council who brought it to life.”

Ms Gray said the playground design was a collaboration between the chamber, Central Tilba Public School and council.

“We asked some of the school children for playground ideas and a selection of interactive patterns to be painted on the basketball half-court,” Ms Gray said.

“The area has a steep slope which was tricky to work with and we could only include so much.

“Colourful rocket hopscotch, snakes and ladders, handball squares and a basketball free-throw line will be the final touches to this great community asset.”

The old swings of the playground were also replaced with a nest swing.

A council spokesperson said the Harry Spindler Memorial playground – established in 1988, was due for an update according to the council’s asset management plans.

“The existing rubber softfall at the site was perishing, the cubbyhouse was in need of renovation works and the basketball hoop and court was tired and run-down,” the spokesperson said.

“Play options on the site were limited, but being on a slope it was challenging to integrate new features.

“Council contributed $50,000 to the project, as well as staff time in working with the chamber to design and manage the upgrade.”

The council spokesperson said the playground was open to anyone who wanted to use it.

“We have tried to add a variety of more inclusive features that will cater for a wider range of ages and enable more children to play together, or children of visitors to the town being able to have a play break in between strolling the stores and heritage street of central Tilba,” they said.

“There’s also an undercover picnic table within the playground for parents or carers to enjoy their lunch or snacks or just watch the children play.

“The play equipment typically caters for two- to 10-year-olds, but with some additional work also scheduled to refresh the basketball half-court, there will be options for older primary school children too, or anyone who wants to shoot some hoops.

The council spokesperson said it was great to work closely with the Tilba District Chamber of Commerce to deliver a positive community outcome that tied in well with the historic heritage village.

“The response has been really positive, it’s been great to see footage of local children enjoying the new slide one after the other and making the most of the new features of the park.”

The playground will be officially unveiled in early 2023, when the final landscaping touches and painted basketball court are completed.