Kids’ Town a possibility

By Alison Noonan
CASEY could soon boast the largest playground in the country.
Councillors at a recent council meeting moved to investigate the possibility of establishing a Kids’ Town in the city.
Based on the existing Ardmona Kids’ Town in Shepparton, the Casey development would provide a largescale community adventure playground for the city’s growing youth population.
The Shepparton facility is renowned as being one of Australia’s most popular children’s playground, and offers a range of play areas on a site as large as the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
It attracts an estimated 150,000 visitors to the area per year, of which 60 per cent are from outside of Shepparton. Casey council has appointed a working group to investigate the concept for Casey, identifying three potential sites, including Casey Fields, Casey Central Town Park and Gunns Road Reserve in Hallam.
The project would rely heavily on community support and State Government funding.
A report presented to council stated that similar projects in other communities had become important play spaces for young people.
“They have also provided a vehicle for many facets of the community to work together and contribute to an important project, delivering significant benefits of community partnership, pride and ownership,” the report said.
Myuna Ward councillor Brian Oates welcomed the move, saying a Kids’ Town would be well utilised by Casey youth.