Arguably one of Melbourne’s most loved playgrounds, Thomas Street Reserve playground has been loved by families since November 1989. The play structure was built with a 20 year life span, and in November 2019 it turned be 30 years old, so it’s well and truly time to give her new look. Construction on the new Thomas Street Reserve playground, which will be the first fully inclusive playspace in Bayside, is set to commence in late October 2020.
Whether you want to relax in the new shaded areas, play, splash around in the unique water play feature or go for a walk and have a picnic with friends, the new and improved park will cater for a wide range of abilities and interests.
The ideas for the new playground have been developed through extensive community consultation undertaken in 2019 and in collaboration with the Community Advisory Group. The opportunity to participate in designing the new playground was widely promoted with feedback received from future users including parents of children with a disability, neighbours of the park, the Bayside Healthy Ageing Reference Group and Bayside Special Developmental School.
Playground upgrade
Works are expected to commence in late October 2020 to remove the existing wooden fort playground structure. Council are intending to retain and reuse several of the turrets from the original structure in the new playground, to acknowledge the history of the park and the enormous community contribution it has made over the years.
The new and improved playground is expected be ready for play again in June 2021. While works are underway, the playground area will remain fenced off from the public.
Public toilet upgrade
The current toilet block will be replaced with a new, larger facility better suited to the needs of kids and parents of all abilities and will include a Changing Places hoist-assisted change facility.
The public toilet upgrade is being delivered as part of Council’s Public Toilet Strategy (2019- 2023).
More information
Background information on the consultation can be found at bayside.vic.gov.au/HaveYourSay and details regarding the parks progress will be regularly uploaded to Bayside.vic.gov.au/ThomasStreetPlayground
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