Your Say Inner West
We are committed to delivering spaces across the Inner West so that everyone with all abilities can benefit from play.
In May 2022, Council committed to establishing a flagship inclusive play space in every Inner West ward and we partnered with Touched By Olivia to help us do that.
The first was at King George Park, Rozelle which opened in September 2024 and the second will be at Richard Murden Reserve, Haberfield which is due to open mid next year.
The third will be Yeo Park, Ashfield.
We want to hear from you to help inform the new design and to create a space that you will visit, love and enjoy.
A flagship inclusive playspace is a playground that has a large area which includes a variety of equipment for different ages and abilities.
The design follows the NSW Everyone Can Play Guidelines which means everyone can get there, stay there and play there successfully.
As the commitment from Council was to establish an inclusive playspace in every ward, Council and staff from Touched By Olivia conducted site visits across the Inner West and the most appropriate space was chosen in each ward.
This is due to various factors such as:
The toilet block is being upgraded:
The construction of the toilet block is scheduled to take place at the same time as the playground upgrade to minimise disruption at the park.
Council is upgrading the pathway lighting within Yeo Park.
The existing lighting within Yeo Park does not provide sufficient lighting to direct commuter route pathways to/from public transport within the park.
It is Council’s intention to remove all existing Ausgrid park lights from the park in coordination with new pathway lighting along the two direct commuter route pathways to/from public transport.
The new lighting to the two direct commuter route pathways running east-west, shown below.
The following work is proposed for the rotunda (subject to grant funding):
In 2022, we asked the community about upgrading Yeo Park playground. This feedback will be used to help inform the new inclusive playspace.
In February and March 2022, we consulted the community on upgrading the playground. After the commitment to establish a new inclusive playspace at this location, the original upgrade was put on hold.
We received valuable feedback that will help inform the new design.
The top five equipment preferences were:
The top five support features:
This consultation will be open for three months with two in-person drop in sessions at the playground.
Let us know your thoughts about Yeo Park Playground.
As two years has passed and the scope of the project has increased, we want to reach out to the community again to see if anything has changed and what your thoughts are now.
What is out of scope?
We are also committed to making sure you can access the information you need in a format that is right for you.
If you would like information supplied in another language or format, please contact us Monday to Friday, 9am-4pm via these free community services.
You will need to provide the project lead's phone number: 02 9392 5743.
Timeline item 1 - active
Initial engagement open - we are here
We are inviting the community to share their thoughts. comments closes Friday 24 January 2025.
Timeline item 2 - incomplete
Under review
We are reviewing your feedback and we will report back on what we heard.
Timeline item 3 - incomplete
Draft design
We are creating the draft design.
Timeline item 4 - incomplete
Second engagement open
We are asking your feedback on the draft concept plan. Have we got it right?
Timeline item 5 - incomplete
Finalising the design
Where possible we will amend the concept plan based off the feedback received. We will also report back on what we heard about the concept plan.
Timeline item 6 - incomplete
Construction
Construction is taking place.
Timeline item 7 - incomplete
Come and play!
The new playground is opened.
Have questions or want to learn more about a project, contact us below:
| Name | Holly Cowdery |
|---|---|
| Phone | 02 9392 5743 |
| holly.cowdery@innerwest.nsw.gov.au |
Join us for the opening of the new King Geroge Park Inclusive Playground on Saturday 7 September, 10am-12pm.
We are reviewing feedback on the concept plan for the inclusive playspace and will report back on what we heard shortly.
Find out what we heard during this engagement.
C0522(1) Item 25 Notice of Motion: Inclusive Playgrounds |
That Council: 1. Acknowledges all children in our community have a right to play, but that a lack of accessibility in local playgrounds prohibit many children living with disability from doing so; 2. Notes that children with disability can be better engaged in designing play spaces and thanks the Social Strategy Advisory Committee for developing co-design principles that aim to engage the community in the design and development of infrastructure, services and policies to ensure projects better responds to and meets the needs of the community; 3. Commit to establishing an inclusive playground in each ward by: a) Identifying a planned playground upgrade in each ward that could be appropriately developed as an inclusive play space, including King Georges Park, Rozelle; b) Working with a reputable third party to better engage children with disability and their families in the codesign of these play spaces, incorporating the co-design principles developed by the Social Strategy Advisory Committee; c) Allocating $50,000 in the 2022-2023 Budget for consultation, planning and design and $2 million for construction in 2023-2024 Budget; d) Directing staff to investigate further grant and funding opportunities; and e) Incorporating this approach into either or both of council’s draft Recreation Study and upcoming draft Playground Strategy, as appropriate. |
When designing the new playspace, we will follow the NSW Government Everyone Can Play guidelines and their three principles:
Touched by Olivia is a registered charity which improves the wellbeing of individuals and communities through inclusion and belonging.
We acknowledge that this land area traditionally belonged to the Gadigal and Wangal peoples of the Eora nation.
