We want everyone in our community to have the opportunity to play and to help achieve this, we want to ensure that everyone can access a playground within a reasonable distance from their home.

Our Active Recreation Facilities Plan identified Windsor Gardens as an area of playground under supply. The plan recommended the establishment of a new playground at George Crawford Reserve.

During September and October 2023, we asked for your feedback on the proposal to establish a new playground at George Crawford Reserve. Following the engagement results showing strong support for further investigation into a playground at this location, we have worked with a landscape architect to determine the best location for a playground at this site and have prepared a playground design.

Construction of the new George Crawford Reserve playground is scheduled to begin in March 2025 and be completed by the end of June 2025. Find out more about what we heard from our community by viewing the engagement summary below.

We ask our community if they supported the proposal to establish a new playground at George Crawford Reserve and if yes, what play equipment you would like to have there.

We know that swings, slides and climbing equipment is essential. We asked participants what fourth play element they would like to see, if they supported the playground proposal.

• Concerns regarding retention of open space for ball sports and dog exercise
• Requests to locate the playground on the edge of the grass space to utilise natural shade and maintain open grass space
• Additional recreation elements e.g. basketball hoop
• Understanding traffic / parking impacts of a new playground - local playgrounds are designed for local residents within walking of the reserve
• Requests for lighting to enable night time use - as this is a local playground, we don't encourage use after nightfall.
• Access to toilets - local playgrounds are designed for local residents within walking of the reserve and for short play visits of 15-30 minutes

Following on from the engagement results showing a strong support for a playground to be located at this reserve, we have worked with a landscape designer to create a design for the new playground.

To ensure adequate open space remains for ball sports and other recreation activities, we are looking to position the playground along the western edge of the grassed area, under the tree canopy and behind the existing clubrooms. We are also looking into the possibility of locating a basketball hoop somewhere at the reserve.

At the Ordinary Council Meeting on 13 February 2024, Council resolved to support the recommendation to endorse the location of the new playground at George Crawford Reserve, and that funding of $350,000 for the construction of the new playground be referred to the 2024-2025 Draft Annual Budget Plan. The meeting agenda and minutes can be read in full on the City of PAE Website.