The great outdoors
The great outdoors is becoming even more accessible for all Queenslanders to enjoy.
For little ones looking for fun, the Sunshine Coast boasts the state’s first All Abilities Playground at Pioneer Park, Landsborough offering a diversity of play experiences for children of all abilities and ages to connect and enjoy time together.
The O’Connor family was one of the first to road test the playground.
Mother of four, Leisa O’Connor says for her youngest child, Danika, who has cerebral palsy, pictured above, the playground provides an ideal place for her whole family to share a good time. “Danika can enjoy the family outing as much as my other three kids,” Leisa says.
Disability Services Queensland has built on Pioneer Park’s success by providing $4.6 million in funding for another 16 local governments across Queensland to create all abilities playgrounds for their local communities.
Playgrounds at Ayr, Thuringowa, Yeppoon and Gympie are expected to be completed in 2009.
People with a disability can also enjoy the great outdoors at Roma Street Parkland in Brisbane, where a new series of sensory walks is stimulating the senses.
Sensory walks have been designed for people with a brain injury or vision impairment to experience the parkland through their senses, memory and mood. Auslan interpreters are available to guide deaf people or those with a hearing impairment through the parklands. Areas of the park have also been developed to ensure that people with assistance dogs and walking apparatus can take advantage of all the elements of the parkland including plants, artwork, water and structures.
In Hervey Bay the world’s longest mobility corridor has been built, allowing wheelchair users to coast along the beautiful bay with ease. The Riverway in Mundingburra, Townsville, is also disability-friendly, equipped with hoists and ramps to allow easy access for people with a disability.
More information about the All Abilities Playground Project.