Lake Monger Area 3 South West Playground Upgrade
 
The project to replace the existing fenced playground at Lake Monger on the South West end was welcomed by the local community. However it is now clear that in spite of replacing an existing fenced playground there are no plans to fence this new facility funded by rate payers. The only intention at this time is to provide a partial section of unsecured fencing on the south side. This in no way solves or mitigates the danger in particular for parents with young children, multiple children or children with disabilities such as Autism Spectrum Disorder who research evidence has clearly established are at significantly increased risk in precisely these circumstances. All children  including those with special needs in the community should be able to use an “accessible and inclusive” playground in particular one with is intended to become “iconic” within the local community.
 
The area in which the park is located is bounded by Lake Monger Drive on the south side and by the actual lake on the North. Both these represent significant and incredibly dangerous hazards for our children and as such the attached individuals request that the Mayor Keri Shannon and Council amend the existing plan to include an accessible and safe fencing arrangement.
 
There are suggestions that this is because ‘parents should be supervising their children’ in playgrounds. This attitude does not reflect the Council’s own policy about access and inclusion for people with disabilities and also simply ignores the reality of parenting multiple young children at a large and exciting space.
 
In the Council’s own words from their current DAIP 2019 – 2022 “The Council is committed to ensuring that the Cambridge community is accessible and inclusive for people with disability, their families and carers and other members of the community who have access considerations.”.
 
The recommendations from this state that Council will:
 
-       Explore opportunities to further support children with disability and their families in the Town.
-       Continue to improve the accessibility of parks, reserves and play facilities to encourage greater participation.
-       Ensure all new projects are adequately scoped to include access and inclusion requirements and the principles of universal design.
 
During the approval process for the current plan the following was identified in the Council’s own minutes as a priority:
 
‘Given the high profile location and popularity of Lake Monger and in particular this playground, it is proposed to replace the existing facility with one which will become iconic in the local community and cater for people of all ages and abilities.” (ToC Council Minuted 27 October 2020).
 
The current plan does not in any way fulfil these policies and promises.
 
One ratepayer who recently inquired was told that children with disabilities such as autism who would be placed at significant risk by the current plan could use other fenced parks as an alternative such as the one at Harborne Street. Whilst this is a lovely park for very small children this ignores the fact that children with special needs have a right to access all facilities safely and perhaps most pertinent the new park is replacing an existing fully fenced playground.
 
Fencing around a playground is very important as special needs children who are mobile and highly active are unaware of danger and can very quickly abscond from their caregivers and the fenced playground can ensure they are safe and caregivers can also attend to siblings. These considerations are also relevant for primary parents trying to supervise multiple siblings in a busy setting.
 
Further to this one of the stated goals of the Town of Cambridge’s Strategic Community Plan 2018 – 2028 – more specifically:
 
Goal 3 - An active, safe and inclusive community
 
Strategy 3.2 Encourage activity that meets the needs of people of all ages, cultures and abilities;
 
Strategy 3.3 Create and maintain safe environments
 
This is a project officially designated as an “accessible and inclusive” playground. It is located immediately adjacent on one side to a very busy four lane road – Lake Monger Drive and on the other by an unfenced lake. In failing to provide a fully enclosed fence this project fails to comply with both common sense and the Council’s own planning and strategy documents and the Mayor and Council must immediately act to rectify this issue.