Zwanenburg parents have started a fundraising campaign to help Playground Zwanenburg finance a modern water playground. Until two years ago, the playground had a paddling pool, but it can no longer be used for safety reasons. Although the playground association itself has already raked in quite a bit, that is not yet enough for replacement. That is why mothers Fleur and Dominique are now passing the cap.
Immediately after the closure of the paddling pool, the playground association started looking for other play options. The most important (legal) requirements were that the devices had to be durable, low-maintenance and accessible to children with disabilities.
In the end, the association selected three options. An election among children left no doubt: of the 739 children, more than 600 voted for a water park.
Save
Such a park costs a small fortune. A total of 150,000 euros was needed, an amount that the association is nowhere near on its account. Thanks to funds and campaigns, the money poured in: at the beginning of this year, the counter stood at just under 90,000 euros. Yet now, six months later, not enough has been raised to realize the park.
The hope that the children can still cool off on the water playground this summer has now evaporated, but next year should be feasible, Fleur and Dominique think.
The women hope to raise 10,000 euros. “It will be great fun for our children if there is a water playground next year,” says Dominique, who regularly takes her three-year-old son to the playground. “Besides the petting zoo, there is not much for children here.”
“With people you used to play with in the sandbox, you now watch the children.”
As a child, the Zwanenburg native also liked to visit the playground. “When school was out, we immediately ran there. There is definitely a sense of nostalgia,” she says. “With people you used to play with in the sandbox, you now watch the children.”
Meeting place
Besides a place to play, the playground is also an important meeting place for Zwanenburgers. Hut construction, Christmas market and Valentine’s disco: everything is organized by the association.
“You always run into acquaintances. But I also often meet up with friends here to have a glass of wine on the terrace, while the children play. And the staff is super sweet: they are all volunteers.”
Fleur and Dominique have now collected 1,300 euros of the intended 10,000 euros. Still a long way to go, but they are hopeful that their children will be able to cool off again next year.
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