Gunnedah families have welcomed the news an all-inclusive playground may be open by Christmas.
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Rebecca Dridan is part of the Inclusive Playground Working Group and was "waiting with bated breath" for Gunnedah Shire Council's announcement of the construction tenderer for Livvi's Place on Friday.
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"It's very exciting. I'm looking forward to the end of the year to finally have it done," Ms Dridan said.
"I think it will be a great benefit to our community to have a safe space for kids with additional needs to be able to play with their peers and a place for whole families ... to share the infrastructure."
Ms Dridan's son Seamus has additional needs and said there was a "definite" need for a playground that caters for children of all abilities.
"That safety consideration is paramount for families like ours, particularly when they can't assess risk as well as their peers. Other kids, who have a tendency to do runners, make it hard for parents to relax when they take their kids to the playground," she said.
"Having it fully fenced and secure will make it a great space for those families."
The concept of an all-inclusive playground was broached by Gunnedah mum Ashley Bender when she presented a petition to the council in 2013.
"I'm very grateful to Ashley Bender for initiating this project. It's through visions like hers that she identified a need for her own family, that will benefit families right into the future," Ms Dridan said.
Ms Dridan said while it had been a "long process", it was "something that's been worth waiting for".
"I think people passing through Gunnedah will find it a great place to stop because of where it's located," she said.
"I'm hopeful in future every playground will be accessible and safe for all children."
The council said Daracon would start working on the project at Wolseley Park in the next few months and the current playground would be closed while the work is carried out.
The detailed design has been a collaborative process between the Inclusive Playground Working Group, Gunnedah's Stewart Surveys, the council and the Touched by Olivia Foundation.
The main elements of the playground will include a treehouse tower, a sensory garden walk, a flying fox and a specially designed swing.
The playground will be financed by $850,000 from the state government's Stronger Country Communities program and a community contribution of $650,000.