Pirate ship playground on its way for Acacia Bay
13 November 2015
The community has spoken, and a pirate ship playground is what it wants!
Acacia Bay's Besley Park on Wakeman Road is getting a new playground early next year and we have spent the past few weeks asking the community which of five options they prefer.
The five concept plans put forward by playground designers were aimed at children aged five to 12 years old and were shortlisted by the Acacia Bay Residents' Association.
We wanted the community's help choosing the new equipment to ensure the playground reflected the unique identity of the Acacia Bay community.
District parks and recreation manager John Ridd says nearly 70 per cent of people who gave feedback on the playground chose the pirate ship playground as their preferred option.
A lot of people commented that the pirate ship playground looked safe, had a wide range of activities and was something that would appeal to children young and old, he said. I think the idea of a pirate ship really captured people's imagination, and we think children who play on it will use their imagination to make every visit an adventure.
The new playground will replace much of the old equipment behind the tennis courts, but will be located across the road from the Acacia Bay Community Hall on Wakeman Road.
We will be putting it here because it's easily accessible and visible, and it will be nestled among the trees which will make for a great environment for children to explore.
Our team is now working with the playground designers to take it from a concept plan to the final design, and construction is likely to begin in March next year.