By Jackson Russell –
The Romsey Ecotherapy Park has opened its newest addition, an all-ages climbing forest, to go with the existing active nature space.
The climbing forest won funding support through the Victorian Government’s Pick My Project Fund and was completed towards the end of 2019.
It features an extensive ropes course designed to challenge children and adults alike and encourage them to use the park in an active way.
Romsey Ecotherapy Park president Raelene Mottram said people have already been actively engaging in the park’s new feature.
“It’s a space for everyone to use and the climbing forest especially. You can have families up here where you’ve got children and their parents, or even grandparents, enjoying the same piece of equipment so that’s something a bit unique in a park setting,” she said.
“For the younger age group, it’s about challenging them, there are bits of it that move and even for adults, it’s also about challenging them, getting back on play equipment and being active.”
With the completion of the climbing forest, there are only two more stages left to the completion of the Romsey Ecotherapy Park, the sensory therapeutic garden and an arts and culture space.
Funding has already been secured from the Victorian Government and the Romsey Community Bank Branch of Bendigo Bank for the sensory therapeutic garden with the project set to get started in mid-2020.
“We’re working hard on securing funding for the arts and culture space and council has made a commitment to supporting that,” Ms Mottram said.
“Meanwhile, we’re keen to ensure that the vision for the park is fully realised financially so we’re hoping to supplement that with our philanthropic fundraising that will be done this year.
“The art installations, we want to really make sure they’re pretty special for this park space as well.”
To celebrate the achievements of the Romsey Ecotherapy Park and to look forward to its future, the group is hosting a community picnic and movie night at the park on Saturday, March 14.
The free event will feature food trucks, roving entertainers, live music and the community can bring their own picnic or order a hamper filled with goodies from local businesses.
