The 2528 Child Friendly by Design project (CFbD), under Healthy Cities Illawarra, was designed to identify places in the Shellharbour area that needed improvements to better accommodate children and families.

The project recently received its latest pool of funding of $44,000 to go towards play equipment, seating and shading at Crew Park, Warilla.

CFbD co-ordinator Nikke Gladwin said the funding will help the group meet the aspirations of the Warilla community.

“When the 2528 project started two years ago, it was in response to initial consultations with families in the area that felt the park needed more seating and shade,” Ms Gladwin said. ‘‘The children were really keen on some additional play equipment, especially a swing.

“Crew Park was identified in October 2011 and since then the activity of the project has aimed to build community capacity, and sought to connect families to the space by holding a range of positive activities.” 

Ms Gladwin said the positive activities had reduced the levels of misuse in Crew Park.

“There have been lower levels of misuse in the park since we started the project,” she said.

“We have introduced a community garden with a vegie patch, hold regular events like a Tree Plating Day, after school activities and holiday activities.

“People of 2528 have really connected to the place and taken ownership of Crew Park. 

‘‘They have really become guardians of the space and are caring for it.”

Ms Gladwin said the project had received an additional year’s funding than originally planned, and the group hoped to continue the support program and potentially duplicate the model for other parks of need in the Warilla area. 

Work on the park is expected to be completed by the end of August.