By Dongyun Kwon
The playground at Bluegum Reserve in Badger Creek was officially reopened after refurbishment.
The playground has now received new seating options including a much-needed picnic table, a new spinner play item, more junior play equipment with swings, which include a toddler seat and a toddler nature play area, and art installations.
Badger Creek Community Group held a family picnic and fun day to celebrate the reopening of the playground on Sunday 19 January.
Badger Creek Community Group member Rachael Davidson said there were free activities for children and sausage sizzles at the event.
“It was just an opportunity for people to come down, we had face painting for kids and a band playing music,” she said.
“There were also new art installations for people to see.
“We had an event last year. Ali Griffin, one of our local artists, had a workshop where community members and a lot of kids from the primary school came down and created clay sculptures of animals.”
In 2024, Yarra Ranges Council approached the Badger Creek community to get feedback about what the community members would appreciate in the upgraded playground.
Badger Creek residents shared their ideas with the council, and the renovation works started in the middle of last year and completed in late 2024.
Yarra Ranges mayor Jim Child also attended the reopening event.
Cr Child said spaces like these are some of the most valued assets that we have in our community, it’s a space for all ages to play, walk and improve our health and fitness.
“This renewal has been years in the making after the council received funding from the Growing Suburbs Fund in October of 2022. The council matched this funding, and since then, we’ve been out to the community to hear about what they wanted to see, created a concept plan for the site, went back to the community for their thoughts on the plan, and then got stuck into the construction,” he said.
“Construction started in the middle of last year, and was wrapped up recently in late 2024, and I think standing here today we can all agree that these wonderful improvements are truly going to make this a space for all in this community.
“I’m proud to be here today to officially open this play space, and I invite you all to come back with your loved ones and make some memories in this space.”
