The Rotary Playground on Wanaka’s lakefront reopened to the public on Friday (March 19) after an extensive - and expensive - upgrade.

The playground, designed for younger children and located off Mt Aspiring Road near the Wanaka Watersports Facility, has many new features, including two swing sets, spinning balance balls and balance steps, an inground mini-trampoline and a concrete scooter track running around its perimeter.

The $350,000 upgrade to the previously existing early childhood playground, built for the community around 10 years ago by the Rotary Club of Wanaka, began early in February and was finished ahead of schedule last week.

The colourful, children’s adventure set of the original playground was retained in the renovation, as well as the roofed BBQ shelter; the former woodchip playground base layer was replaced by a rubberised mat.

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) community services general manager Thunes Cloete said the finished product was an improvement in accessibility and the variety of play it encouraged.

“The decision was made to upgrade this playground as the old space had a limited variety of play equipment in what is a popular part of Wanaka’s lakefront,” Thunes said.

A colourful rubberised mat replaced the woodchip base layer of the previous playground built by the Rotary Club of Wanaka.

The renewal project also involved the placement of new bench seats and picnic tables around the existing BBQ and shelter, making it suitable for families with young children to enjoy the playground, the lakefront and the view, he said.

The concrete scooter and trike pump track circling the playground is especially designed for younger children.

QLDC’s $350,000 budget for the renewal project did not extend to creating a formalised car parking area.

QLDC spokesperson Jack Barlow said while the playground construction drawings included the layout provision for a new car park “it won’t be constructed as part of these works”. Instead, large rocks have been placed near the roadway approaching the playground to prevent vehicles encroaching on the playground.

PHOTOS: Wanaka App