Kids just wanna have fun

PLAYTIME: Marissa Packwood (seated), Brooke Kimber (centre) and Jackie Foster try out Cambridge’s new ‘space age’ playground - and recommend a more conventional design for Te Awamutu. 297061AD

Te Awamutu needs a new playground - with climbing equipment, flying fox, lots of old-fashioned swings and a swingbridge - according to 11-year-old Marissa Packwood and friends.

Marissa felt so strongly about the need she wrote to the Te Awamutu Community Board requesting a new playground be built in a central location. She said Memorial Park wasn’t popular with her friends because it was too secluded to go to alone and youngsters didn’t feel safe there.

The letter, which had the signatures of 30 supporters, was timed beautifully as the Board was giving consideration to that very matter following a verbal report the previous month from Waipa District asset manager recreation Max Ward. Mr Ward had asked the Board to consider where and how money should be spent on playgrounds in Te Awamutu.

Consideration was being given to upgrading existing playgrounds or building a new one. Following Marissa’s letter the Board recommended that Council investigate the building of a new playground on the reserve land between the Te Awamutu Events Centre and Pioneer Walk. The Board felt the area was a suitable site given the future planning for that part of the town - linking nicely with the Rose Gardens, Swimming pool and stadium, Pioneer Walk, Selwyn Park and other planned facilities.

To show their support, the Board also pledged money from its Minor Communities Works fund to help get the project underway.

Marissa and two schoolmates, Jackie Foster and Brooke Kimber, visited Cambridge’s new playground in MacLean Street with equipment from Danish company Kompan. Their verdict was that one of the main pieces was fun, as were the spinning platforms - and the rest was a bit confusing. They also expressed a preference for equipment that was linked and formed a more unified play area. In their list of favoured activities were flying fox, skateboard apparatus, spinning snakes, slides and swings, climbing bars and rings and swing bridge - and designed for all ages to enjoy.

The youngsters gave their support to the recommended location, and showed they had given plenty of thought to the project by listing a number of benefits they could see.

The Board is interested in your views - email the chairman Dean Taylor at deantaylor@wwweb.co.nz.