Seniors' playground in city centre

Isabel Murphy, Dorothy Lockhart and Beverley Shervey of the Coffs Harbour Senior Citizens Club.

Rob Wright

Poll

Do you support a seniors' playground at Brelsford Park?

This poll ended on 28 February 2011.

Yes

70%

No

22%

Undecided

7%

This is not a scientific poll. The results reflect only the opinions of those who chose to participate.

SENIORS should have their own playground in the city centre, says Coffs Harbour City Councillor Rodney Degens.

He wants to see a Seniors’ Playground added to the plans for Brelsford Park so our elders and betters can join the youngsters on the city’s swings and roundabouts.

“An outdoor gym designed for the needs of the elderly located somewhere in Brelsford Park would be an inexpensive project and a sign of respect for our elders,” Cr Degens said.

“In the past couple of years we have seen the planning of the Brelsford Park children’s playground and its successful completion.

“The park looks great; it is continuously frequented by children and complements the colourful ‘Lego’ building across the street. Why don’t we consider the seniors? After all, this town is chock-a-block full of them.

“As we are all getting older and in our turn becoming seniors, shouldn’t we desire that these seniors remain as healthy as they can, as flexible and as self-reliant as possible?”

Playgrounds for seniors are no pipe dream. At the recent Local Government and Shires Association conference, delegates were shown some of the equipment available for such projects which resembled sturdy, outdoor-hardy gym equipment for use as part of weight-bearing and strengthening exercises.

Seniors may also be hoping for some more frivolous equipment, like heavy-duty swings, easy-access see-saws and roundabouts for the rotund.

Cr Degens said there had been recent suggestions in council to revisit the Brelsford Park Masterplan and move further with planning to progress it through to a second stage.