New playground for Wallsend

A group of primary school students from Wallsend had special permission to test drive the suburb’s new playground.

Wallsend South Public School’s year-six leadership group were joined by Newcastle’s Lord Mayor as they scaled nets, flashed down slides and swung on revamped swings at the rejuvenated Cressington Way playground.

The Lord Mayor with Amber Hunt, 3, and year six students from Wallsend South Public School

Today’s opening takes the total number of playgrounds replaced in the past four years to 14 across 11 different suburbs and more than $5 million worth of fun new facilities for the community.

“I’m delighted to open this wonderful new $150,000 playground,” the Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said.

A snapshot of suburbs across the Newcastle LGA which have received upgraded playgrounds

“The timber and steel-structured playground, which includes a tepee tower with stainless steel slide and a shop counter, among other great aspects to exercise little bodies and develop young minds, was built as part of the City’s playground replacement program.

“Under this annual renewal scheme, the City’s Parks and Projects teams completely overhaul old, weathered equipment, replacing them with more modern materials that meet ever-rising standards and service expectations.”

Elijah Maltby, 2, enjoying all there is to offer at Cressington Way playground

Alex Maltby, 4, enjoying the playground's teepee Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes with three-year-old Amber Hunt

Cr Nelmes said this spoke to the City’s commitment to upgrading community assets as a core component of its annual capital works program.

“We've also just recently celebrated the opening of the South Stockton Active Hub along the Stockton foreshore, and an adventure playground at Richley Reserve as a part our ongoing commitment to make Blackbutt Reserve one of the Hunter's premier attractions."

For further information, please visit the City of Newcastle's Playground Replacement Program page here.