Playground Upgrade Project

Site 1: Major Upgrade - Children’s Reserve - Scottsdale

29 George Street, Scottsdale
The Children’s Reserve is the main playground in town and is a popular choice for birthday parties and play dates. This project will transform this park by replacing several of the main elements in the playground and creating a community hub/destination style playground that will provide multi use spaces for informal gatherings, relaxation and play. Elements that target various age groups, in particular infants and toddlers will be included to create a multi-generational space with a focus on open-ended play.

A community consultation period was held between Wednesday 27 November, 2024 and Wednesday 11 December, 2024 to gather community feedback on the preferred direction of the playground. Responders were asked to choose between 2 smaller playground options that would allow enough footprint to include either a helicopter or a tractor or alternatively choose 1 larger multi age play piece.

We received a total of 106 responses. 36% of the votes received came from the 0-18 age bracket (primary users) with 29 of the 35 voting for the larger piece.

A breakdown of responses across the age groups is below:

Other comments:

• 4 of Finley's voters commented that they would also like the helicopter to be included*
• 1 of Finley's voters commented that they would also like the tractor to be included*

*Unfortunately due to cost and available playground footprint no other pieces are able to be included at this time.

WORKS UPDATE: Equipment has been ordered. ETA March/April 2025.

Site 2: Major Upgrade - Branxholm Park - Branxholm

1-7 Scott Street, Branxholm
Branxholm Park is situated adjacent to the Branxholm Camping Ground and Swimming Pool and is a popular spot for campers and locals alike. Upgrade to the BBQ’s at the park is planned in order to value add/complement this project which will see the upgrade of the main combination equipment piece.

WORKS UPDATE: Works complete. Construction commenced on Tuesday January 28 2025. The new main equipment piece has been installed, and the park was reopened to the public to enjoy from Tuesday February 11 2025.

Site 3: Minor Upgrade – Winnaleah Playground – Winnaleah
13 Main Street, Winnaleah
Winnaleah playground is centrally located in town and a popular place for locals. While catering well for school aged children and, to an extent, older children/teenagers the playground lacks key elements in making it a holistic play space for the community. This project will rectify this through provision of landscaping and additional play elements.

WORKS UPDATE: Line marking has been completed on the basketball court and games area. A new equipment piece featuring a slide has been installed, along with some rubber soft fall pads under the existing double swing set. The park was only closed for 5 days and reopened on Monday 3 March 2025 . A new basketball backboard, post and hoop is expected to be installed prior to the end of March 2025.

This project was initiated as a result of feedback and data collated as part of the Playground Facility Audit Report.

This project has been funded by the Open Spaces Grants Program ($200,000) and Dorset Council.

Updated March 2025

Document Library

Winnaleah Park Concept Plan

Branxholm Park Concept Plan

Children's Reserve Concept Plan