Ana and her three-year-old son Luka are trying out the playground. Photo: James Coleman.
After more than a year of upgrades, the George Gregan Playground at the Centenary Hospital for Women and Children in Woden has reopened to families, bringing much-needed relief for parents trying to entertain children during long hospital visits.
The playground, on the ground floor of Building 11, has attracted criticism in recent years for what some parents have described as near-constant closures.
“Every time I go there, it’s closed,” one parent wrote on social media earlier this year.
“The hospital is always running late for appointments by hours, and it would have been great to get the children out on the playground instead of trying to keep them calm and still inside.”
The playground is found on the ground floor of the Centenary Hospital for Women and Children. Photo: James Coleman.
The post quickly filled with similar complaints from other families.
Canberra Health Services (CHS) said the playground had been fully closed only once in the past three years for repairs, although intermittent closures had occurred for cleaning and maintenance.
Minor works team project manager Priya Grovenor said the latest closure began in March last year, with the upgraded playground officially reopening on Monday (26 May).
The biggest change is the new softfall surface, which had reached the end of its life after being damaged by tree roots.
But among the islands, lily pads and jungle animals hidden throughout the new design is a tribute to some unexpected site visitors.
“You’ll see stencils of birds’ feet on the softfall, which is actually a bit of a tribute to the birds nesting in the trees while we were doing the project, and their baby birds,” Ms Grovenor said.
“We added the birds’ feet into the design.”
The new softfall keeps the original island-and-water theme while adding extra details, including hippopotamuses, crocodiles and hidden “Easter eggs” for children to discover.
There’s a tiny tree frog on one of the poles, a lizard beneath a bench seat and even a glowing campfire inside the playground’s cave.
“It’s been a lot of fun, compared to our other projects, like upgrading air-conditioning,” Ms Grovenor laughed.
CHS said the playground undergoes monthly inspections to ensure it remains safe and compliant.
Project manager Priya Grovenor: “It’s been a lot of fun, compared to our other projects, like upgrading air-conditioning.” Photo: James Coleman.
For some families, the playground is more than just somewhere to pass the time.
Jaraleah Statton visits the hospital three times a week with her five-year-old son, Izeyah Statton-Molloy, who has a severe bleeding disorder.
“We found out when he was four months old – he was just constantly getting bruises and things like that,” she said.
“Since then, he has constantly been in and out of ED, on the wards and things like that for long periods of time.”
Izeyah now receives medication through a drip three times a week.
“He’s full of energy,” Ms Statton said.
“This is why I bring him to the playground – to burn some off.”
Izeyah’s favourite part of the revamped playground?
“The animals.”
The five-year-old is such a fan that he even chose a zoo theme for his birthday party.
Jaraleah Statton visits the hospital three times a week with her five-year-old son, Izeyah Statton-Molloy. Photo: James Coleman.
For Ana (last name withheld), whose three-year-old son Luka is currently being treated for suspected mastoiditis – a bacterial infection of the bone behind the ear – the playground offers a small break from the stress of hospital life.
The pair only discovered it after arriving at the hospital unexpectedly earlier this week.
Doctors are reassessing Luka every 24 hours to determine whether he’ll need surgery.
“It’s a guessing game, your guess is as good as mine,” Ana said.
Luka quickly found a favourite part of the playground: the slide. Unfortunately, it’s the one thing he can’t use right now due to the IV drip.
“But he’ll be back.”
