In a long overdue but very welcome addition to Sydney’s selection of free, outdoor playgrounds, the city has scored a state of the art all-abilities playground. The first of its kind in Sydney, the 6.4 million dollar park opened at Deerbush Park, next to Fairfield Showground, in July 2021. It was jointly funded by Fairfield City Council and the federal and state governments.
The park features a Liberty Swing, which allows children in wheelchairs to swing in safety, as well as a wheelchair-accessible carousel, and a ground-level trampoline. There is also climbing ropes and a net course, flying fox, learn-to-ride track, climbing net fort with a slide, an accessible riverbed crossing, a water pump, sand digger, and voice tubes.
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.
As well as all the fun and games, there are also picnic tables and bench seating, and an accessible public toilet facility with an adult change table that can be raised and lowered. 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 exercise option for walkers, cyclists and wheelchairs. There is also brand new outdoor gym equipment for grown ups.
The entire park has been designed around mature trees and shrubs, providing excellent shade for park users and a habitat for local birds. Council also planted more than 22,000 native, locally-sourced plants including 40 large trees and 1,000 large shrubs.
