25 August 2010

Would you like a park with that?

| johnboy
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Mr Stanhope’s having a good day. First he announced the new community parks in Rivett and Macarthur were open:

“The Macarthur community park features a half basketball court and skate facilities, a slide and climbing equipment, double swings and a spinning net.

“The new community park in Rivett includes a double swing, slide, climbing equipment, three fitness stations a petanque court and a covered BBQ.

“The parks also feature shaded picnic tables, seats and new shrubs and plants.

But wait!

He’s also, somewhat condescendingly, announcing a Teenage play area for Belconnen:

Chief Minister and Minister for Territory and Municipal Services, Jon Stanhope, said the new recreational facility would cater for families, teenagers and young adults.

He said Belconnen residents could have their say by participating in a public consultation meeting.

“The ACT Government has allocated $250,000 for a new recreational facility at the Western Foreshore District Park to cater for teenagers and young people in Belconnen,” Mr Stanhope said.

“The new play area will offer a space for young people to play, be active and socialise. It will complement the new youth skate park which is being built at the Eastern Valley Way Inlet in 2011 as well as the existing children’s playground at the Western Foreshore District Park.

The consultation is going to be on the site from 1-3pm on Saturday 11 September.

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What, teenagers aren’t allowed to play? As I recall, that was pretty much all I did as a teenager. Politically correct references to ‘young adults’ aside, you’re still pretty much a kid (with all the access to glorious irresponsibility that that implies) until you’re 18.

Waiting For Godot4:58 am 26 Aug 10

Actually there was a Macarthur Park in Canberra. Back in the mid 1970s when the roads of the Tuggeranong suburbs were built, the Fraser government took office and instituted savage cutbacks. As a result the suburbs were not developed until years later. The local motorsport community used to hold car racing on the vacant streets and called it Macarthur Park. Many people were upset at the loss of a racing circuit when the money finally flowed and the land was released for housing and other facilities.

The only thing teenagers that hang around the skatepark need is somewhere to protect them from the cold late at night when they have their little ‘all nighters’. Preferably with hidey holes to stash their grog when police patrol the area.

Macarthur Park is melting in the dark, all the sweet green icing flowing down.

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