A happy spot by nature

Andrew, Cristian, Stefania, Alessia Francesco, Dylan, Giada, Bianca, Ben and Daniel with Brimbank mayor Margaret Giudice

A nature-themed park at Antwerp Drive Reserve in Keilor Downs has opened to the public.

The upgraded park, officially re-opened earlier this month, includes a new playground featuring climbing posts, a mound with a slide and climbing unit and a host of new plant life.

Brimbank mayor Margaret Giudice said the upgraded park had been designed to encourage children to play.

“Antwerp Drive Reserve Neighbourhood Park has been upgraded to include a beautiful sheoak forest, totem poles featuring some of our native animals and more than 61 new trees and 91 new plants,” she said.

“This beautiful park features a nature-based design – I’m sure children will love the chance to play in and around nature.

“Evidence suggests that if children are given opportunities to play in natural spaces, it can have a significant positive impact on their future health and wellbeing.”

Cr Giudice said Antwerp Drive Reserve was one of many Brimbank parks to have undergone an upgrade in the past decade.

“This $120,000 upgrade is part of council’s transformation of Brimbank’s park network – through the multi-award-winning Creating Better Parks Policy and Plan,” she said.

“Since Creating Better Parks was adopted in 2008, council has upgraded 99 parks at a cost of approximately $26.5 million.

“We know that improvements to local parks have a real and measurable impact on park use and levels of physical activity – which supports all of us to live healthy and active lives.”