A new million dollar park will provide residents in Tarneit a place to jump, walk and play, will be delivered by Villawood Properties.
Costing $1.6 million, the playground will features designs that encourage activity, as well as work by artist Folko Kooper, including a tree and kookaburras sculpture.
“Play is a fundamental part of childhood,” Villawood executive director Rory Costelloe said.
“Kids need places where they can run, jump, tumble, sweat and connect to natural elements.
“Kids need to run around in more natural settings. They need to get their heart rate up and reduce the massive strain on the public health system caused by
diseases such as asthma, allergies and obesity.”
Mr Costelloe said outdoor play was essentially important given the lure of technology.
“These can be quite detrimental to the healthy physical and mental development of young people,” he said.
“A disturbing range of problems are emerging as a result. Kids are overweight, lacking in physical co-
ordination and skills, withdrawn, poor communicators, depressed … the list goes on.”
Mr Costelloe believes outdoor play “provides experience and that certain amount of risk that helps develop skills and strength”.
“It imbues an appreciation of a healthy lifestyle, it encourages curiosity, and it teaches important social skills. So play is, in fact, serious. But most importantly, from kids’ perspective it’s also serious fun,” he said.
The Alamora playground is set to open in the first quarter of next year.
