By Cam Lucadou-Wells
The much-loved timber-tower playspace in Burden Park, Springvale South owes everything to community spirit.
Opened 25 years ago, it was built by an army of up to 1500 residents and some of the local Army Reserve over five days of toil.
The ‘childrens castle’ theme was based on the customised Leathers playground concept, and remains unique in Greater Dandenong.
Supporters’ names are still enshrined on the playground’s palings to this day.
The project was largely paid for by two years of fundraising – raffles, a rock-n-roll night and donations totalling $120,000.
Janine Bray and Geoffrey Daniel were among a determined committee of about six residents who led the project from start to finish.
“It was special because it was community built,” Ms Bray said.
Many businesses and club got behind it with donations and supplies, Ms Bray said. The City of Greater Dandenong supplied a Mazda for the committee to raffle off for funds.
Mr Daniel remembers the masses of volunteers fed with free breakfasts and lunches onsite. Food and drinks were provided from markets, market gardens, the then-Victorian Milk Board, hospitals, frozen food suppliers and cake shops.
Tools, paints and building supplies came from hardware stores.
Once it was built, it felt like there was true ownership by the community, Mr Daniel said.
“It was one of those things where someone had a great idea, and it brought people together in a big way.
“We needed something for Springvale.
“It was a community giving back to each other.”
The space has become a meeting area, a place for a barbecue, to shoot hoops or to explore the timber maze.
“It’s not intimidating, it’s not all concrete, no bright lights and no advertising,” Mr Daniel says.
“It’s just a community meeting place.”
A 25th anniversary barbecue will be held in Burden Park on Sunday 8 September 11.30am-1pm. All welcome.
