Council and Livvi’s Place charity to deliver first all abilities playground in Wagga

The City of Wagga Wagga will partner with national charity Touched By Olivia Foundation to deliver the city’s first all abilities playground.

The Bolton Park playground will be built and designed for children of all ages and abilities to play side by side.

The Touched By Olivia Foundation creates unique, special places that provide social inclusion for all children and their families.

Play spaces created in partnership with the Foundation are branded as Livvi’s Place playgrounds. These playgrounds are in memory of Olivia Perkins, the daughter of Sydney parents John and Justine Perkins, who died of a rare disease when she was eight months old.

Wagga Wagga mother Leila Bright, whose eldest daughter was born with a disability, helped unite Council and the Foundation.

"The need for an all abilities playground in the city was identified and Council were looking to deliver the playground in accordance with the Wagga Wagga Playground Strategy 2016-2036," Strategic Asset Planner (Parks and Recreation) Peter Cook said.

"The Touched By Olivia Foundation have worked in partnership to deliver 19 Livvi’s Place playgrounds across the country. The Foundation has the knowledge and expertise to create special places where all children can socialise and enjoy the wonders of play.

"Council also extends thanks to Ms Bright, for her enthusiasm and ambition has helped bring the two parties together to deliver this fantastic facility for the city."

On Monday night Council resolved to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Touched By Olivia Foundation for the delivery of the playground.

The Livvi’s Place playground will replace the existing playground at Bolton Park and will be relocated adjacent to the Bolton Park Skate Park.

Community and stakeholder contributions helped decide the final design of the play space, which will include characteristics to encourage equal access and play, security and safety and facilities for young and older children and family get-togethers.

Under the MOU the Touched by Olivia Foundation will contribute a minimum $100,000 towards the project. This is on top of Council’s $100,000 commitment and grant funding of $10,000 from Northcott and $75,000 from the NSW Government Office of Sport and Recreation.

Construction of the park is expected to start in early 2017.