Petition to save destination playgrounds grows

Future Destination Playgrounds have been axed from the proposed 10 year budget led by Mayor Andrew King. Photo / Supplied

A petition to save the Hamilton Destination Playgrounds programme has gathered more than 1400 signature in the wake of Mayor Andrew King's axing of the programme in the proposed 10-year budget for the city.

At an elected members briefing earlier this month, Mr King presented his proposed community budget, which said the council would deliver 14 upgraded neighbourhood playgrounds over 10 years while another $10.6 million was spent on maintaining the current Destination Parks.

The petition, started by Angela Cumming last Friday, says that with the mayor's proposed budget will end the Destination Playgrounds project and eight Destination Playgrounds planned for Hillcrest Park, Glenview Park, Bremworth Park, Te Manatu Park, Porritt Stadium, Ashurst Park and Moonlight Drive Reserve.

The petition has attracted the attention of both the public and councillor Angela O'Leary, who endorsed it on her public Twitter and Facebook account.

"The petition to save Destination Playgrounds is nearly at 1500 signatures. Make your voice heard. Playgrounds are not a nice to have, they are a must have," Ms O'Leary said.

Sarah Macrae signed the petition and said that Destination Playgrounds are safe environments for children to play in.

"Smaller house lots with next to no backyards increase the population density and the need for safe spaces for children to play increases — everyone should be within easy walking distance of a good playground, and Hamilton City Council needs to ensure this is true by continuing with their playground construction plans," Ms Macrae said.

"Don't let the next generation become indoor screen babies because the council decided their education through play in safe environments was not a priority in the city development plan."

Grant Hughes signed and commented saying that the playgrounds were bringing people closer together.
"
We need spaces for kids to play and be physically active. With all the schools being locked away from the community after hours these spaces need to be available for the communities to meet and interact otherwise we'll keep getting more insular and distant from our neighbours," Mr Hughes said.

The petition will be presented to Hamilton City Council when they discuss the 10-year plan on December 6 and 7.

The council's media release issued on Wednesday November 22 outlining the mayor's budget proposals had an error in the section relating to maintenance and renewals. Part of the paragraph referred to $10.6 million for renewals at Destination Playgrounds. This should have referred to Destination Parks.