Monique Nolan, 11, from Bulli makes the most of Towradgi Park playground's tall slide. Picture: ROBERT PEET
A national award has recognised what the kids of Wollongong already know - the Towradgi playground is excellent.
Wollongong City Council has won the national Playspace Award of Excellence from Parks and Leisure Australia for the playground at Towradgi Park.
The award recognises the involvement of children and community members in the playground's design.
During the design work, children said they wanted to climb, spin, slide, rock and swing.
So the playground was built to include a maritime-themed rope structure, aligned to the nearby 1800s shipwreck of the Queen of Nations and is boarded by black rocks, a feature of the nearby Towradgi Point.
The award recognised the incorporation of natural landscaping, extensive shade for families, the involvement of children's artwork - and the sheer size of the tower slide.
It is recognised as the tallest in a public space in Australia.
Wollongong Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery said the award should go to council staff and the children who worked together on the playground and what he called "the best tower slide in all Australia".
"Our feedback from children and visitors to the park is simple: they love it," he said.
"And I would like to invite all community members in the city to visit this playground to see for themselves how wonderful the different play areas are.
"They should also use the public seating and barbecue equipment at the site. It's a wonderful part of our city," Mayor Bradbery said.
