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MEDIA RELEASE ‘Launching Into Play at www.playillawarra.org.au ’Clr. Sandra McCarthy, President of Healthy Cities Illawarra, will officially launch an exciting new community website – the first of its kind in Australia. The ‘Play Illawarra’ website will provide parents and carers across the Illawarra with detailed information on more than 250 playgrounds from their own home computer. The directory provides colour photographs, geographical locations and other surrounding facilities such as seating, shade, water, BBQ’s and disabled access. “The Play Illawarra website has been developed as part of Healthy Cities’ commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of children and their carers. We believe that active play is the most natural form of physical activity for children and increasing the use of outdoor play spaces across our region will have numerous physical, mental and social benefits” said Katherine van Weerdenburg, Child Health Programs Coordinator at Healthy Cities. More than just a directory of playgrounds, the Play Illawarra website promotes safe, active play for children and their carers by including information on upcoming play events, play services such as playgroups and playcentres, and loads of other information on play related topics such as creative playspace design and better urban planning for play. “Active outdoor play in community play spaces brings children and adults together and the health and social benefits of this are numerous. Unfortunately, modern day living has placed restrictions on most children’s independence and their opportunities to meet, play and explore their neighbourhoods. As a community, we have to be committed to providing every child with more opportunities to safely play and explore the world outside their own lounge room“ Ms van Weerdenburg said. The Play Illawarra site encourages feedback from playground users by posting comments, sharing information about playgrounds and play experiences and giving notice of upcoming community play events such as teddy bears picnics or family fun days. After almost 12 months of work, the Play Illawarra website can be viewed at www.playillawarra.org.au .The project has the support of Wollongong, Shellharbour and Kiama Councils who have contributed data and financial resources towards the development of the site Mayor of Shellharbour, Clr David Hamilton and Wollongong Mayor, Clr. Alex Darling will be in attendance. It will be publicly launched during Children’s Week 2006 from 10 - 11am, Wednesday 25 October 2006 More information: Katherine van Weerdenburg, Children’s Health Programs Co-ordinator Phone: 4226 5000 |