Your chance to have a say on the Play Space Strategy

The swings are great fun for the kids (mental block as to what they’re aclled) Malkara recently got one ad I think Black Mountain school has one too. Great to hear there’s one out at Kambah.

As far as inclusive, perhaps a little more fencing on some might help, many kids with special needs are runners and I’m sure their mums and dads or respite workers woudn’t mind taking them and the siblings to a park wheer to other kids couldat least play without losing johnnie out onto the road?

Pommy bastard said :

It would seem that some have forgotten that one of the key elements, and benefits, of play is risk.

no. that is why, my kids have a real cubby house. in a tree, not made of plastic…

It would seem that some have forgotten that one of the key elements, and benefits, of play is risk.

Peterh, i take my dog off leash there sometimes, but only when there’s nobody around, so you won’t have to worry about him mindlessly slobbering on you or your little’uns. 🙂

Kambah used to have flying foxes.

Bring back the flying foxes that were at the playgrounds of my youth (Kambah Park and Fadden Pines!). Let natural selection do it’s thing.

OK – having had a look at the document – it seems like government crap.

Why don’t the TAMS people commit to build 3 or 4 parks specifically for those who need special facilities. These can be fenced and opened by rangers each day. Their design would be advised on by the carers – not some expensive consultant from Melbourne. (I reckon the carers know a bit about accessibility and what floats their kids boats)

Then we can make sure the rest of the playgrounds in Canberra cater the the 95% of kids that don’t have the special requirements.

Problem solved.

So the playgrounds have to be “accessible” and “inclusive”….but no mention of fun, or thrilling or a little bit scary or resistant to vandalism.

tylersmayhem said :

My old game as a youngster: a small jerry can of BP Zoom, a couple of tennis balls, box of redheads and a mate. Instant adrenaline football…and several singed hairs.

much better when you play it with tennis raquest behind the charnwood top shop, back when it was a dirt field….

My old game as a youngster: a small jerry can of BP Zoom, a couple of tennis balls, box of redheads and a mate. Instant adrenaline football…and several singed hairs.

fnaah said :

Perhaps a half-pipe with wheelchair access?

I was surprised to see a wheelchair-access swing at Kambah “adventure” park the other day. (It’s really not that adventurous anymore.) How long has it been there?

Anyone know if it gets used?

it does. I saw a family using it with their wheelchair bound child last week. the shame of kambah adventure playground isn’t the facilities, they are pretty good, it is the people who come to the park with their dogs off the leash. Last thing i want is one of my kids attacked by a “playful” dog….

playspaces need to cater for all ages, I enjoy the flying foxes in warrnambool – they are graded for adults and kids alike.

that is what the playspaces need to be here. not designed just for kids, but able to support adults as well.

AngryHenry said :

When I was a teen we made our own fun.

An inclusive playground would also include facilities for teens, something like a half basketball court, compact, simple, cheap to deploy. Perhaps the government would rather that this age group roam and terrorise the neighbourhood instead
Obviously by failing to cater for this age group they are in breach of their own human rights legislation – DISCRIMINATION!

Perhaps a half-pipe with wheelchair access?

I was surprised to see a wheelchair-access swing at Kambah “adventure” park the other day. (It’s really not that adventurous anymore.) How long has it been there?

Anyone know if it gets used?

When I was a teen we made our own fun.

Probably to the detriment of the rest of society however.

so where are the facilities for teens?
the report is only catering for handicapped.

Wrap them in cotton wool and buy them a video game console.

“An essential element in the provision of public play spaces is that play is accessible and inclusive to children and carers of all abilities.”

Perhaps a half-pipe with wheelchair access?

What we need is some sort of parents and citizens association (a good one, not http://www.schoolparents.canberra.net.au/, and not one that is just about education), to take up this problem and push for tort law reform in the ACT.

I think the above organisation I linked to is not the right organisation for two reasons. Firstly, it is an umbrella organisation for only public school P&C’s. I view this as more of a community wide issue.

Secondly, judging by the President’s atrocious performance on Ros Solly’s program a week or so ago commenting on the stimulus package, ineffectual would be an understatement.

Do we have something that fits the bill? Perhaps the community councils?

An essential element in the provision of public play spaces is that play is accessible and inclusive to children and carers of all abilities.

Fay Hug

Snuuuurrrtt…