Newsletter 4 June 2007

The Woodend Children’s Park is moving into its next exciting phase, and is calling upon all those who have expressed an interest in helping out to come forward!

You’ll soon see a lot more of the team as the fundraising initiatives kick off, beginning with the welcome barbequed sausages outside of Coles over the chilly Woodend Winter – so please come down and see what we’re all about. The team have organised a raffle competition with fabulous prizes donated by our local businesses that we will also be selling there, so come and support this exciting project. There will also be balloon giveaways for the kids!

Overall, we are also calling on the community to come forth with their ideas for what they would like to see in the park design. The local children are gearing up to bring their ideas to life in a painting and sculptural competition that will be displayed in the High Street shops.

From the research we are gathering, children are more inclined to be drawn to natural play settings than the more rigid standard manufactured playground environments. What children seem to want are more opportunities to play outdoors in stimulating natural spaces where they can have fun and be with their friends and use their imagination. Nature trails, boulders, mounded earth, wooded plots, sensory gardens are so important, as are giving the kids a chance to get dirty and allow children to be spontaneous and create and explore their own imaginary worlds.

We are hoping the children in Woodend will give us some fabulous, creative ideas to work on, expressed through their art and designs. At the same time, if members of your family can recall favourite parks or play equipment, natural or otherwise that they would like to see considered, please email through your thoughts and let us know – childrenspark@woodendweb.org. We look forward to hearing from you, and will look at promoting these fabulous ideas on our website on www.woodendweb.org/childrenspark.

Kind regards, The Woodend Children’s Park Team

Woodend Children's Park Incorporated ABN 76 727 270 589