THE skeleton of a whale inspired the design of a $ 1.4 million playground at Scarborough foreshore and the first set of equipment will be delivered this week.
The all-abilities play space will form part of the $100 million foreshore redevelopment and will include climbing structures, swings and wheelchair accessible features.
MRA chief executive Kieran Kinsella said the design was inspired by Noongar culture.
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READ NOW“Inspiration has been drawn from the Noongar culture, where some believe that their ancestor’s spirit return to the land through whales,” he said.
“It is said that a spirit will attach itself when a whale calf is born and when the whale is at the end of its life it will beach itself, retuning the spirit to land.”
On behalf of the Premier, Minister Assisting the Minister for State Development, Jobs and Trade Alannah MacTiernan presented City of Stirling mayor Giovanni Italiano with a $1.47 million Lotterywest grant to help fund the project.
Cr Italiano said he was confident it would be one of the most popular playgrounds in Perth.
“It will cater for children of all abilities and will include inclusive play items such as a roller table and elevated wheelchair accessible sand tables,” he said.
The design includes ‘soft fall’ surfacing and ramps for access between play spaces and encourages active play with spaces to dig, climb, build and explore.
Ms MacTiernan said quality playgrounds were great “activators” of public areas.
“The playground will contribute towards establishing Scarborough Beach as a safe, attractive and contemporary beach for the community and its visitors,” she said.
Scarborough MLA Liza Harvey said she hoped the community enjoyed the playground.
“I’m pleased to see Lotterywest building on the former Liberal-led State Government’s investment in Scarborough,” she said.
Current works at Scarborough:
Other redevelopment works underway at the moment include the Snake Pit (Skate Bowl) which will have dedicated areas for skating, BMX and scooter riding.
These works form part of the Intergenerational Plaza that sits between Sunset Hill and The Esplanade which is due for completion early 2018.
The area for the skate bowl has been excavated and the concrete is being poured
Footings for the climbing wall and skatepark are going in
Earthworks have started on a half basketball court
The first set of equipment will be delivered this week for the whale playground
Car parking and paving continuous works:
Works are currently underway on the far northern lower carpark, the southern upper and the southern lower
Once each carpark is complete they will be progressively opened (and handed over to the City of Stirling) over the next three months.
Paving and road works are underway on both north and south sides of The Esplanade, paving is nearly complete and balustrading is in the process of being reinstalled on the north side from Nandos to Squires
Paving in front of Sandbar and then will begin from Rendezvous to Matisse.
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