Date 29 July 2026 Category City news Topic Parks and public open spaces The upgraded playground at Virginia Ryan Park is now complete, delivering a vibrant new play space designed with input from the local community. Inspired by the colours and floral design elements featured on the Virginia Ryan Park entry signage, the custom playground creates a unique identity that reflects the character of the park. The new play space includes a double slide, balance trail, monkey bars, sensory play features, and natural elements such as limestone and timber to encourage active and imaginative play. Accessibility has been a key consideration in the design, with the combination play unit featuring ramped access connected directly to the surrounding footpath network. This provides improved opportunities for children and visitors with mobility limitations to access and enjoy the play equipment. The project was shaped through community consultation, with residents and park users contributing valuable feedback during the engagement process. The completed playground reflects the ideas and aspirations shared by the community and provides a welcoming space for families and visitors to enjoy for years to come. In addition to the playground improvements, the project has delivered significant landscaping enhancements across the park, including: 27 native trees planted 3,333 native tubestock shrubs planted Hydrozoning of turf areas to reduce long-term water consumption within the park These improvements will help enhance the park’s natural environment, increase shade and biodiversity, and support more sustainable water use. The completion of the Virginia Ryan Park Playground Upgrade represents an important investment in community recreation, accessibility and environmental sustainability, creating an inviting destination for residents of all ages.
