I had the pleasure of having two of my grandchildren over for Easter, an 18-month-old boy and a four-year old boy, both full of beans.
We decided to take them to KidsTown on Saturday morning to try to run some energy out of them.
What has happened to the fun place that was once the largest kids’ playground in Victoria?
So neglected, with some play areas closed off.
Café didn’t open and looks like it hasn’t opened for a while.
Train no longer runs, fences are down, sand volleyball court has lost its net but the wires that held it are still lying around.
And it looks like the kangaroos are keeping the grass low.
Sponsorship signs are losing paint, anything metal is now rusting.
All wooden seats have not been maintained and they are splitting and cracking, becoming an issue to sit on.
I counted approximately 50 people there of all shapes and sizes during the hour and a half we were there.
It seems that it is being left to get to a stage that it will have to close as it is becoming a safety issue.
Even the male toilets have cobwebs and the dreaded stale urine smell that deodorant tablets would fix, but none to be found.
And drinking fountains near the entrance that you would not put your mouth near.
As I remember, so much of the developing of this complex was by volunteers and sponsorship, pavers were sold and you had your name put on them and placed in pathways.
Compare this to SAM, where tax or ratepayers, with some donations, paid for it all.
They say it doesn't run at a loss, as it is supposed to be a not-for-profit creation. But it costs the ratepayer well in excess of $3 million a year to maintain it.
I think in the 2024/25 budget year KidsTown cost $391,000 to maintain and it raised $186,000 in income, making its running cost $205,000.
A far cry from SAM, which is really only for a select few, whereas KidsTown is for all kids and parents.
I noticed that there was no money set aside for KidsTown improvements in the last budget, so the same lack of care will be shown this year.
Councillors, this is a great attraction for locals and visitors alike, please go and look at the condition of this place and see if it is as good as it should be for people to return.
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