Rozelle gets new upgraded inclusive playground

The Sydney community of Rozelle now has an exciting new $2.9 million inclusive playground following a joint project by Inner West Council and the NSW Government.

Inner West Council together with Summer Hill MP Jo Haylen officially opened the new King George Park Inclusive Playground to the community on 7 September 2024.

The Council invested in and delivered the project with Crown Lands in the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) contributing $156,000 toward the total cost with a grant from the Crown Reserves Improvement Fund (CRIF).

Inclusive play experts Touched by Olivia Foundation, with extensive feedback from local residents, delivered a high-quality, fully inclusive playground so that children of all ages and abilities can experience the joys and benefits of playing together.

Inclusive playgrounds provide a happy and safe place for children where difference is not a factor. They cater to a range of play types and are equipped with facilities for stimulation, quiet time, and areas to socialise with others.

This is the first of five flagship inclusive playgrounds the Council will deliver across the Inner West.

Playground features include:

• A range of action-packed, inclusive play equipment that will encourage climbing, sliding, digging, balancing, bouncing, spinning, zipping, and splashing for hours.
• New BBQ and picnic areas, seating, bike racks, bubblers, shade structures and quiet respite areas for family gatherings or resting points to stop and recharge before getting back into the action.
• New accessible amenities building with changing tables inside the playground.
• Aboriginal cultural heritage is reflected in the entry artwork of the Baludarri or Leatherjacket motif by Mumbulla Creative. Aboriginal artwork in the play areas reflects important cultural stories of the park's proximity to the foreshore and connection to the sea.

Crown Lands Director of Programs and Partnerships Janelle Pearson said Crown land reserves support community health by providing public land for recreation, community organisations and facilities, and to protect sensitive areas of the environment.

“Crown land reserves like King George Park provide vital space for residents to relax and for children to play,” Ms Pearson said.

“The inclusive and accessible upgrades to the playground will support community recreation, healthy interaction and children's development and well-being.”