Nature playground planned for Wandina

Wandina Primary School Principal Di Miller and City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn are joined by year three and year five students on the proposed site of a nature playground located on both school land and City owned land in Derna Park.

Getting back to nature will be easier than ever before for Wandina children with the signing of an agreement between the Wandina Primary School and the City to construct and maintain a nature playground in the heart of the suburb. 

City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn said the school had contacted the City earlier in the year about jointly building a playground. 

“In July the Wandina Primary School approached the City with a proposal to construct a nature playground jointly on school land and City owned land located in Derna Park,” he said. 

“The proposal presented a unique opportunity for the Wandina Primary School and the City to pool funds and build a playground facility which would be used during school hours by students and after hours by the community.” 

Wandina Primary School Principal Di Miller said the idea to jointly build the playground came from the school’s strong focus on the local community. 

“The idea to jointly build the playground came from recognising the importance of involving the local community in the school and wanting to offer more activities to the young families in the area,” Ms Miller said. 

“With Derna Park located next door, approaching the City to jointly build a nature playground which would enable Wandina children of all ages to experience play in a natural environment was the obvious thing to do.” 

According to Mayor Van Styn the timing of the nature playground proposal couldn’t have been better with the City planning to construct a toilet block in the popular park this financial year. 

“Derna Park is classified as a District Park in the City’s hierarchy of parks which entitles it to playground equipment and a toilet block,” he said. 

“Although Derna Park is already popular with the local community, the addition of a nature playground and toilet block will result the Park becoming a top location for families from across Geraldton to visit and enjoy.” 

With the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the City and Wandina Primary School regarding the construction and maintenance of the playground, a Royalties for Regions application to fund the construction of the playground will be able to proceed to the next stage.