News

School kids test $1.3 million community park in Diggers Rest

December 6, 2023 | IN Media Release and News | BY Holly Brennan | 3 min read

A $1.3 million new community park, located in Bloomdale by AVID Property Group, will be put to the test with a visit from 60 Grade five students from Diggers Rest Primary School on Tuesday 12 December.

The students will be among the first members of the public to enjoy the Gecko Park, which is Bloomdale’s fifth and final park, completing its network of over six hectares of greenspaces – equivalent to three Melbourne Cricket Grounds.

AVID Victoria General Manager Jason Brettell said he looked forward to students, residents and the wider community using the park, which will have its official opening attended by Deputy Mayor Steve Abboushi over the weekend.

“The final park in our Bloomdale masterplan promises to be a fantastic meeting place for children and their families,” Mr Brettell said.

“The park includes designated nature-based play zones, a seven-metre play tower including slides and monkey bars, a swing set and multi-purpose grass areas facing a waterway.

“Phil Stray, who is well-known for creating concrete and mosaic art pieces in parks across Victoria, has created a 5.4-metre gecko sculpture centrepiece for children to play on and interact with.

“All five Bloomdale parks are quite unique and celebrating local artistry with this sculpture was another way to differentiate this greenspace from others.”

Gecko Park will also feature an undercover seating and barbecue area, and a pedestrian bridge joining the new park to its sister park, Flore Park, which opened in October of 2022.

“Bloomdale’s network of parks are an integral part of the community’s design and mean a lot to our residents and to local sporting clubs and schools,” Mr Brettell said.

“They are physical spaces that bring people throughout Diggers Rest together for fun, exercise, relaxation, and meeting others – and that is a huge part of fostering community spirit.

“We are thrilled to be welcoming the students here for a first play and we hope it’s a place they’ll enjoy for many years.”

Diggers Rest Primary School Teacher Molly Thomas said the 60 primary school students were very excited about their visit. “The students have been looking forward to this special play day for weeks. They feel quite privileged to be among the first kids to enjoy this new community asset,” Ms Thomas said.

EVENT DETAILS FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS/JOURNALISTS:

Diggers Rest Primary School Children will be the first public group to play in Bloomdale’s final of five community greenspaces: Gecko Park.

Where: Bloomdale by AVID Property Group, Diggers Rest

Address: Figwood Drive, Diggers Rest, VIC 3427

When: Tuesday, December 12

Time: 12pm – 2pm

For further information & to register attendance:

Eliza Woods, BBS Communications Group P: 07 3221 6711 M: 0407 710 706

E: ewoods@bbscommunications.com.au