Is Foley Park dangerous for kids, ask residents

Calls from Glebe residents to install a gate at Foley Park playground have been rejected by the City of Sydney Council.

A group of 50 residents submitted a petition to council after several mothers complained that the playground was not fully fenced and children could run from the play area onto Bridge Rd, risking injury.

Glebe resident Jo Holland started the petition. “The mothers group who were meeting in Foley Park had to go elsewhere because it isn’t safe enough.”

Parents believe the park should be properly enclosed.

Senior lecturer in child development at the University of South Australia, Dr Victoria Whittington said: “If a child runs out in front of a car that is a life and death situation and there is no coming back from that, so the level of risk is very high . . . it’s very worrying.

Glebe residents’ request to install a gate at Foley Park playground has been rejected by City of Sydney Council.
A group of 50 residents submitted a petition to council after several mothers complained the playground was not fully fenced and that children could run from the play area onto Bridge Rd, risking injury.
Glebe resident Jo Holland, who started the petition, said: “The mothers group who were meeting in Foley Park had to go elsewhere because it isn’t safe enough.”
Parents believe the Park should be properly enclosed.
The City of Sydney Council sent a letter to residents stating the gates would not be installed because doing so would restrict access to the playground and reduce opportunities for children to play.
Contract Coordinator for the council, Nick Criniti said: “We only fence play areas completely when there are no obstacles but we have installed two sets of steps that act as a barrier and slow children down.”
Glebe resident Jeanie Paterson signed the petition.
“The people who received a letter from the council felt defeated and didn’t know what else they could do.”
Ms Paterson said several mothers had been surveyed by the council to find out what improvements could be made to the park and yet these concerns had been ignored.
“I feel angry about what a waste of time and tax payers money it is to have the park constantly surveyed and then for them to not listen to the basic requests of the community,” Ms Paterson said.
Senior lecturer in child development at the University of South Australia, Dr Victoria Whittington said: “If a child runs out in front of a car that is a life and death situation and there is no coming back from that, so the level of risk is very high . . . it’s very worrying.”
The City of Sydney Council sent a letter to residents stating the gates would not be installed because doing so would restrict access to the playground and reduce opportunities for children to play.
Contract Coordinator for the council, Nick Criniti said: “We only fence play areas completely when there are no obstacles but we have installed two sets of steps that act as a barrier and slow children down.”
Petition signatory and Glebe resident Jeanie Paterson said: “The people who received a letter from the council felt defeated and didn’t know what else they could do.”
Ms Paterson said several mothers had been surveyed by the Council to find out what improvements could be made to the park and yet these concerns had been ignored.
“I feel angry about what a waste of time and tax payers money it is to have the park constantly surveyed and then for them to not listen to the basic requests of the community,” she said.

By Rachel Corbett