COMMUNITY leaders hope a $1 million playground to be built at a park in Keilor East will help curb the increase of obesity and diabetes in children.
According to the latest Victorian Population Health Survey, Brimbank has the second-highest prevalence of type 2 diabetes, the third-highest prevalence of male obesity and the highest levels of psychological distress. About a quarter of Australian children are overweight or obese, largely due to poor diet and increasing inactivity.
Funding for the playground at Brimbank Park was announced by the state government last week.
Parks Victoria chief executive Dr Bill Jackson says the playground, to be built in partnership with children’s charity Variety and the People and Parks Foundation, will encourage children to get out and play.
“We believe we have a problem with kids not spending time outdoors and hopefully we can help fix that,” Dr Jackson said.
“In recent years we’ve tended to not let our kids go far from home.
”There are problems with obesity-related diseases in these areas, so hopefully this project will teach kids why nature is important and help them get fit.”
Work on the playground, which will be built at the front of the park’s cafe, is expected to start next year.
It will include equipment for children with special needs.
Variety’s general manager, Rod Dalglish, said the project would help children enjoy a better quality of life.
“Having a playground where children of all different backgrounds can play together and experience the joys of an outdoor environment is crucial to the development of all children,” he said.
Brimbank Council chairman Peter Lewinsky said he hoped the playground would encourage families to be more active.
Pupils from Keilor Primary School were last week given the chance to vote for activity areas they would like to see feature in plans.
Grade 4 pupil Georgia said she voted for a pea pod to be included in the playground.
“It has a fake peas in it and you can sit and pretend to be a pea.”
Residents will also be given a chance to have their say on the design of the playscape in coming months.
