A Shell Cove mum has issued a warning to other parents about Berry's popular new playground after her four-year-old daughter India broke both her legs on the steep slide late last month.
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Tisha Fleming said India was riding down the slide at the Boongaree Nature Play Park with her dad, Ben Greaves, when her legs kicked up and got stuck on the roof of the slide.
"Because she was wearing sandals her legs caught the roof and sort of got stuck, and her legs hyperextended and she snapped both tibias," Ms Fleming said.
India was treated for hairline fractures at Shoalhaven Hospital.
"Every single nurse and doctor were talking about injuries from the park, and since the accident happened, it seems like everyone I talk to knows someone who has been hurt," she said.
Ms Fleming wants to let other parents know about some of the dangers at the new park, and has contacted Shoalhaven council to ask for extra safety measures.
She also made a social media post about the accident, and received hundreds of comments from other parents. She said 52 people who responded said their kids had also been injured at the park, and 40 of those were on the slide.
"I think there should be some more signage dotted around, and perhaps some height guides, and I also think they really need to look at the slide and whether it needs to be changed," she said.
"It's so steep, and so fast that kids sort of shoot off the end, and every parent who sees kids coming down it seems to think 'holy s--t that's fast'."
"I'm not a helicopter parents, or someone who complains, but I'm being stubborn on this. It's one thing to say kids need to be exposed to risk, but there are some things that are just not safe."
Since India's accident, Ms Fleming says her family has learnt a lot of about park safety after doing a significant amount of research.
For instance, she said other people had pointed her to information showing that parents should not slide down tunnel slides with their kids because their extra weight could cause exactly the type of injury that happened to India.
She also found that the Boongaree Nature Play Park was divided into various age sections, but believed these should be more clearly marked.
"I just want to make sure that each area if safe for all the ages who are supposed to be there," she said.
"The slide is located in what's deemed the early childhood area, and it's definitely not really designed for the younger kids.
"I think this is the most beautiful park, and there's heaps of great things there for kids to do, but the rope bridge and the slide is the cherry on top for kids so they need to be safe."
Mr Fleming said India was facing five weeks in recovery, but was still keen to return to the Berry park.
"I asked India what she thought, and she said she wants to go back, but that she's never going back on the slide again," she said.
The nature play park - which has proved a drawcard for Berry - opened in January, and includes a dual, accessible flying fox, sensory play area, swings, slides, climbing nets and exercise equipment.
Read More: The longest slide in the Shellharbour
There are also amenities with lift and change facilities and family picnic and BBQ spaces, designed to reinvigorate the northern edge of the Berry township following the introduction of the Berry bypass in 2017.
When it opened, Gerringong resident, nature play advocate and popular parenting author, Maggie Dent, took her grandkids and said Berry might just "become the play capital of the South Coast" because of it.
"My heart is really singing," Maggie told ACM.
"We know that it's important to get kids outside and off screens, we also know that we need to give them opportunities to stretch themselves.
"And some of our older playgrounds are way too safe. We need to give kids back the freedom and autonomy to be children, because that's how they grow and thrive and become more resilient."
A national child safety organisation will independently evaluate Berry's Bongaree Nature Play Park.
"Given the recent community concern, council will be working with KidsSafe Australia to undertake an independent assessment of the facility," a Shoalhaven Council spokesperson said.
"Bongaree Nature Play Park in Berry is intended to be used and enjoyed by visitors of all ages and abilities however, as with all playgrounds, council strongly encourages visitors to use the park's play equipment with reasonable care and for minors to be continuously and actively supervised by their parents or guardians.
The equipment has been designed and certified as compliant with relevant the Australian Standards.
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