The Creative Corner Early Learning Centre is holding a charity ball this Saturday, as a last push to raise funds for a proposed playground.
Centre manager Cheryl Young said as the organisation was a community-based early learning centre, the board of trustees wanted to create an event that would encourage the community to come together to support them with their fundraising.
While 100 tickets had already been sold, she said there were still tickets available.
"It’s not too late to come to the charity ball and support us."
Staff had enlisted help from landscape architect Kirsten Wilson to design the new playground.
Mrs Wilson said a lot of thought had gone into the design.
"I know the space well because my kids have been coming here for eight years."
She said the Creative Corner Early Learning Centre was thought to have been built on the old tennis courts at Timaru Girls’ High School just over a decade ago. The playcentre’s landscaping and playground had been put together "in a hurry" with what remained of the budget after the building was completed.
"So for the last 10 years the landscaping and playground hasn’t been as good as it should be."
She said the centre had been fundraising for a few years to renovate the playspace and had managed to save up more than $100,000 for the project.
The new design for the landscaping and playground would likely cost double that.
She said the proposed playground would see a lot of the existing concrete removed and replaced with more natural materials, as well as some colourful rubber surfaces.
She said there would be more opportunities for children to engage with the natural environment with the addition of trees, gardens, a wild area of shrubs and a vegetable garden.
"They can create their own games and experiences in these spaces."
Mrs Wilson said a tree trunk alone had bugs and bark to explore. Moreover, it allowed children the opportunity to practise balancing, climbing under and over, using it as cover for hiding behind and a structure for the children to chase each other around.
It was "a lot more than you can do with most conventional playground equipment".
However, there would still be a swing set, sandpit and relocatable climbing boxes.
"There’s also a new track for bikes and carts to loop around and around with green surfacing in the middle, and a stony creek for pouring water down. The whole space is going to look a lot more green and textured which is going to be great for kids and adults alike.
"Greenery has a wonderful way of making a place more peaceful even when it’s full of excited kids."
The ball will be held on Saturday at the Landing Services Building.
Tickets can be bought from the centre in Cain St for $70.
