Our City's First All-Abilities Playground Now Open

Published on 17 June 2021

Girl in wheelchair riding on all abilities swing at the opening of Deerbush Park

Every child in our City will find something fun at our City’s first all-abilities playground, which opened yesterday at Deerbush Park, next to Fairfield Showground.

The $6.4 million playground was officially opened today by Fairfield City Mayor Frank Carbone. It was jointly funded by Fairfield City Council, and the Federal and State governments:

  • Fairfield City Council ($4.2 million);
  • Western Sydney City Deal Liveability Fund ($1.7 million);
  • The NSW Office of Responsible Gambling’s ClubGrants program ($293,596);
  • NSW Planning Industry & Environment – Everyone Can Play program ($200,000).

The park includes a Liberty Swing to allow children in wheelchairs to swing in safety, a wheelchair-accessible carousel, ground-level trampoline, and an accessible public toilet facility with an adult change table that can be raised and lowered.

A climbing ropes and net course, flying fox, learn to ride track, climbing net fort with slide, accessible riverbed crossing, water pump, sand digger, picnic tables and bench seating, and voice tubes are also included.

A special inclusion is an accessible water play space with 13 unique above ground squirters and numerous ground-level bubblers – the first for a public playground in Fairfield City. The water play space will be open in warmer months and all water will be recycled and treated to the same quality as pool water.

Adults can also enjoy the park, with new outdoor gym equipment. The park is connected to the Showground’s new path network, which provides access to all of the Showground’s facilities as well as an enjoyable exercise option for walkers, cyclists and wheelchairs.

The entire park has been designed around mature trees and shrubs, providing excellent shade for park users and habitat for local birds. Council also planted more than 22,000 native, locally-sourced plants including 40 large trees and 1,000 large shrubs.

Mayor Carbone said Deerbush Park furthers Fairfield City Council’s commitment to being an inclusive, family-centred City.

“Deerbush Park is an exciting space for all children to come together to have fun, no matter what their abilities,” Mayor Carbone said.

“Council is committed to creating great spaces for friends and families to gather together to have fun, and to be active and healthy.

“The water play area is another big first for our City. I can’t wait to see families coming together in the warmer months to have fun and stay cool.

“This new park joins Council’s incredible line-up of local parks, and will rank among the likes of Fairfield Adventure Park, Bonnyrigg Town Centre Park, Koonoona Park, Emerson Park and Cabra Vale Memorial Park as one of our City’s premier green spaces.

“Deerbush Park ensures the Fairfield Showground has something for everyone to enjoy, no matter their ability. It is another way Fairfield City Council is making our City a great place to live, work, play and raise a family.”

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