PLAY AREAS

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 92, 15 October 1927, Page 10

PLAY AREAS

LOWER HUTT'S FIRST

OPENING TO-DAY

"It is our intention," said Mr. W. T. Strand, Mayor of Lower Hutt, recently, "to have at least twenty children 's playgrounds in the borough. The public are responding exceedingly well to the call for funds, and it should not be long before our aim is realised." Embodying the most up-to-date appliances and situated in both the old and new subdivisions, these play areas would supply to children and their mothers recreation facilities second to none iv the Dominion.

Those at the head of the borough's affairs have tackled the matter while the town is in a comparatively early stage of development, and have not delayed until the congestion makes the acquiring of suitable sites difficult and expensive. The first of the playgrounds to be completed was opened by the Minister of Health, the Hon. J. A. Young, at Biddiford Park this afternoon.

As regards situation the Kiddiford Park site is all that could be desired. The Park has its frontage on Laing 's road, which carries comparatively little traffic, while the playground itself is well back from the road. The immediate environment of the play area could hardly be bettered. Biddiford Park besides its spacious lawns and attractive gardens, includes tennis courts and croquet lawns upon which those of maturer years can occupy themselves while the youngsters are making merry on the swings and slides only a few yards away. Between the playing apparatus and the road are the Riddiford Baths with the children's paddling pool. The apparatus stands largely to the credit of two men, Mr. D. A. Ewen, who provided the necessary funds, some £250, and Mr. G. A. Chapman, who during the last sis months has devoted a considerable amount of time to the actual construction and fitting-up, which has been carried out under his direction and supervision. Mr. Chapman has enabled the most to be made of the money provided by Mr. Ewen, as the only expenses incurred have been the actual cost of the materials and the labour of a couple of workmen. It is estimated that had the work been done otherwise it would have cost at least one-third more. Apart from the monetary saving, the various appliances are said to be more efficient, stronger, and safer than anything of the same nature erected elsewhere.

The equipment includes see-saws, a merry-go-round, swings, chutes, a plank-swing, and a combination gymnasium comprising a monkey ladder, trapeze, and rings. Smaller chutes and swings are provided for the very little children. The whole is set in concrete foundations, and bitumen surface. When the playground is in use mats stuffed with horsehair will be spread over the bitumen.