Masterton District Council [MDC] has begun work to improve accessibility at McJorrow Park playground, including removing an area of bark chip and replacing it with a soft pour flexi surface.
A path is also being introduced as part of improving access for people with mobility limitations to the Lillypad swing.
The work is being paid for using a $28,000 grant from the Trust House Foundation.
There will also be two interactive play panels installed.
MDC facilities and open spaces manager Ian Osland said the work will take about two weeks, with the Lillypad swing unable to be used during this time.
“We want to make the playground as accessible as possible and are grateful for the Trust House Foundation grant helping us make this happen for the Eastside community.
“The work being done may be a temporary inconvenience, but we are confident the outcome will be a real benefit to all playground users.”
In related news, the popular climbing frame at Queen Elizabeth Park’s Kids Own Playground, which was dismantled in late February due to safety concerns, has now been replaced.
The original climbing frame was removed after the plastic coating on the rope deteriorated, allowing strands of wire to stick up in turn, causing a couple of incidents in which children were injured.
At the time of the issue, MDC stated that tape was put over the dangerous spots as an interim fix, but the climbing frame had to be taken down to allow for a more permanent solution.
