Children present their ideas to City of Mount Gambier to revitalise Railway Lands

Children from Akuna Kindergarten in the City of Mount Gambier, a regional town in South Australia, have presented their ideas for activating the Railway Lands play precinct. 

Promoted by the community consultation process for the Sport, Recreation and Open Space Strategy, the Kindergarten encouraged students to think about what would make the Mount Gambier Railway Lands a better place for them.

 

“Part of our intentions for the year as educators was to ensure the children have a voice in the community and the power to make some change to the things that matter to them,” Akuna Kindergarten Early Childhood Teacher Kerri Scherer said.

 

“First, we identified how we were connected to the Railway Lands. We set up a model of the Railway Lands and while the children explored in a hands-on way through small world play, we gathered the children’s experiences and knowledge and scribed their thoughts and ideas as they played. We also surveyed families.”

 

The children then visited the Railway Lands on an excursion to do some further hands-on research, exploring the existing play spaces, and then imagining and drawing the possibilities of what the space could be. 

 

Back at Kindergarten, the children refined their ideas and plans and created 3D models.

 

“We used donated materials to build the models around the children’s ideas which included super bouncy trampolines, soccer, flowers, artwork, water play, cubbies, tree houses, colour and nature, a sand pit, tools and a zip line,” Ms Scherer explained. 

 

“We are excited to follow along with the planning process and see if any of our ideas are used in the redevelopment project for the Railway Lands.”

 

City of Mount Gambier Strategic Development and Recreation Coordinator Elisa Solly said Council will take on board the feedback provided by the Kindy.

 

“Council is very impressed by the work of Akuna Kindy students and we will consider their feedback as part of the development of concept designs for the Railway Lands play precinct.”

 

Image shows Akuna Kindergarten students Billy, Willow, Annabelle, Hazel and Sierra with a 3D model creation of their ideas for the Railway Lands play precinct.