The Riverside Playground should be complete and ready for use by the end of April. Photo: City of Wagga Wagga.
After more than 12 months of construction, the Riverside playground is “finally getting close” according to Wagga Wagga City Council’s Strategic Asset Planner Ben Creighton.
Final works on the ground within the playground will be the finishing touch to a “regionally significant” project, that when complete will become one of the biggest playgrounds in regional NSW.
“This is going to be something that is a point of difference from any other playground that’s in and around a regional area and this playground itself will act as a destination in the fact that people will come to it when they’re in Wagga,” said Mr Creighton.
“It’s something that we’re getting really excited about it because it is starting to take shape and you can see the different elements in and around the playground that are going to be included.”
He described the playground as very distinctive in terms of the different elements, size and varied play options that are available. The community chose the eventual design, inspired by a Wagga favourite from a bygone era.
“The playing station and the towers themselves that are being constructed as part of the playground have taken a bit of inspiration from an old water slide that was down at the Riverside precinct many decades ago, called the ripper slipper,” said Mr Creighton.
The new playground pays homage to the iconic Rippa Slipper. Photo: WikiMedia Commons.
“They’ve taken a bit of inspiration from that and you can see that in the way in which the slides wrap around the towers themselves, similar to what you would see as a waterslide.”
The potential for a water play park was explored but deemed impractical largely due to the ongoing maintenance required to run such a facility.
Mr Creighton said the feedback from the community so far has been overwhelmingly positive and several people have made contact with the council eager to know then they’ll finally get access. The contractor believes it will be ready before the end of April, weather permitting.
Wagga’s kids will be spoilt for choice when the playground is ready. Photo: City of Wagga Wagga.
The project is part of $9.93 million stage two of the larger Riverside precinct masterplan which extends from the Wagga Beach carpark through to the old St Michael’s Oval. The development aims to activate the Wagga Beach and Murrumbidgee River precinct, work as a link to the CBD and assert Wagga Wagga as a riverside city.
The full Riverside Strategic Master Plan is available on the City of Wagga Wagga website.
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