A new regional playground with special access and facilities for children with a disability has been opened in the grounds of the Ferntree Gully community centre and library.

The new state-of-the-art children’s playground replaces a facility that has served children from Knox and surrounding areas for the past 20 years.

Designed in consultation with the Knox Disability Advisory Committee to cater for children with disabilities, the new playground features wide and level pathways to assist wheelchair access and movement, wider ramps and slides, and swings and hammocks that provide extra support.

Extensive rubberised surfaces add to safety.

The mainly cyprus pine construction has a wide range of equipment particularly suited to children aged four to 10.

Elevated platforms connect different types of slides and a range of fire poles, ladders, tunnels, turrets and bridges.

A unique feature is an elevated maze comprising more than 20 one-metre-square brightly coloured panels depicting native animals and birds.

The panels were painted under the supervision of the Knox Placemaker artist team by children from six Knox primary schools and visitors to Carols by Candlelight and Knox and Stringybark festivals.

The new playground—a Knox City Council initiative—promotes an environmental awareness theme—ceramic images of birds, fish and lizards are inlaid in pathways and rubberised surfaces around equipment reflect the nearby Ferny Creek, showing a stream and its aquatic inhabitants.