Playground work nears completion

The popular Mowhanau playground is set to reopen in about two weeks when a major upgrade is expected to be completed.

Playground Centre has designed the layout for the new-look area and is supplying and installing the equipment.

Working on site yesterday, Allan Zohs said progress had been quite slow.

"She's quite a big project," he said.

The only access to the playground is over a small bridge which has slowed the project down significantly.

Mr Zohs said that, as a result, a lot of the material had to be manhandled across to the playground as opposed to being dumped directly on the site.

"We had to wheelbarrow concrete into the site," he said.

The Playground Centre part of the work is likely to be finished by Thursday but surrounds still need to be put in before the facility is reopened.

Popular playground equipment such as the flying fox, the witch's hat and the pirate ship will remain in the playground.

"We've kept the flying fox because it's quite popular with the locals," Mr Zohs said.

The council's Community Projects Team is also involved in the playground work.

Wanganui District Council senior parks officer Wendy McGhie said the council budgeted $100,000 for replacement equipment, safety surfacing and installation.

Ms McGhie also said that about $5000 had been spent on ground work and retaining walls.

"The Mowhanau playground will provide more play opportunities for children of a wide age group range from toddlers up," she said.