By BRIDGET SCOTT
THERE were smiles all over the place at Marriott Waters Recreation Reserve last week when the Casey Mayor turned out to help turn the sod for the first all abilities playground in the south-east.
City of Casey Mayor Mick Morland, along with fellow councillor Amanda Stapledon, was thrilled to be part of the milestone occasion in Lyndhurst.
Livvie’s Place is a partnership between the Touched by Olivia Foundation and the City of Casey and is an all-inclusive play space which invites all members of the community.
Volunteer Community Co-ordinator and ambassador for the project Therese Howell spoke at the sod turn and said there has been nearly $200,000 raised for the project.
Ms Howell’s son Jack, who has a physical impairment, was also part of the sod turn and thanked the community for its support.
Councillor Morland said this was a great example of the entire community working all together.
“This is a significant event in the health and wellbeing of local people,” he said.
“It will help to capture children’s imagination and is a great asset for the community.”
Ms Howell said she was excited to have a space such as this available to the Casey community.
“My son is usually able to take part in most playgrounds, but I wanted to help create this for the next generation of families which are like us,” she said.
The final design includes many special pieces of equipment and exciting features such as a kite flying hill, tree house deck, wheelchair accessible carousel, harness seat double flying fox and lots more.
A Berwick resident, Ms Howell is also on the access and inclusion committee with the City of Casey council and said the only play spaces of this type are in Kew and St Albans.
Ms Howell said that when she first had her son her mothers’ group was not able to meet at regular playgrounds because there were four children with a disability in the group.
Councillor Amanda Stapledon said she had always wanted something like this for the area.
“This project is a fitting example of community,” she said.
“It enables kids with a disability to play and is all about inclusion.”
“My dream has been to have one of these in the south-east.”
Construction of the play space will get underway soon.
