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Five new playgrounds will be open soon for children to play on in Orange as part of Council program to improve playground facilities in the city.

Two new playgrounds are being built in Larance Park and Sullivan Reserve, while new playgrounds will replace old playgrounds at Glenroi Oval and Sir Neville Howse Park.

Council increased its spending on new playground construction over the past two financial years, allocating $360,000 in each of the last two budgets to boost the city’s playground network. This year $90,000 has been allocated for new playgrounds in the draft budget.

Last year’s funding allowed for new playground equipment to be installed at Jaegar Oval, Nelson Park, Webb Street and Lady Dorothy Cutler Park.

Orange City Council Sport and Recreation Policy Committee Chair, Councillor Tammy Greenhalgh, said the council was committed to increasing access to play equipment for children across the city.

“The aim is to improve access to play opportunities for children and their carers by building more neighbourhood playgrounds in residential areas, as well as upgrading existing playgrounds that have reached their use-by date,” Cr Greenhalgh said.

“The funding boost has enabled Council to make some great improvements to the provision of play equipment in Orange and I look forward to working with the community to provide more recreation options for younger people in future.”

Work on installing the playgrounds in Larance Park (in Sunny South Crescent) and Sir Neville Howse Park (off Forest Road) is almost complete and they should be ready to use in a couple of weeks, weather permitting.

The playgrounds at Glenroi Oval and Sullivan Reserve (off Sullivan Circuit) will be installed later next month.

Another new playground in Matthews Park, was funded through Council’s FutureCity project, will also open soon. The softfall surface was installed at the playground this week and it should also be ready to use in a couple of weeks.