A priority project in a rural community has paid huge dividends, with a contemporary children’s playground in Boucher Park, Avoca providing local and visiting children with an inclusive, fun and educational play and exercise experience.

The Avoca Museum and Information Centre received a $36,680 grant from the Tasmanian Community Fund (TCF) to upgrade the existing playground equipment, which was identified as basic and old.

Avoca Museum and Information Centre president Helen Reynolds said the children’s playground was a popular play area for local children as well as children travelling through the town with their families.

“Community consultation resulted in the preferred new playground focal feature being reflective of the town’s farming culture – a life-size tractor and trailer unit that has a number of play options including climbing and slides,” she said.

“A gyro basket swing and sheep swing rocker was included for toddlers and younger children, and high quality softfall was installed under all the play units to make the playground accessible to all children across all seasons.”

Ms Reynolds said the local community worked tirelessly over the past 10 years to secure funds to improve the park’s facilities and infrastructure to benefit the town.

“To date, the old schoolhouse has been restored to become the town's museum and information centre, the public toilet facilities upgraded, the cenotaph restored, and solar heating has been installed for the museum and information centre,” she said.

“Given that getting a good start to life in developing healthy habits early is critical for a healthy adulthood and healthy ageing, we seek to do all we can in our community to assist children to learn about, and experience, the healthy benefits of physical activity, as these young residents are the future lifeblood of our community.

“Avoca is a small rural town and our businesses’ viability is totally reliant on income from the passing travelling public.

“The redevelopment of the children’s playground will entice more travellers to stop, refresh and spend at the local businesses.”