First certified playground is in Munxar

The tiny Gozitan village of Munxar is the first locality to boast a playground conforming to all the requirements laid down by the standards authority.

With an investment of €219,000, the local council made use of various government schemes to bring the facility, dedicated to the late scholar and author, Ġużè Aquilina, up to scratch.

The playground was inspected by Malta Standards Authority officials following the publication of a set of draft guidelines governing public play areas.

Public Dialogue Parliamentary Secretary Chris Said noted that the government was giving local councils the necessary tools to implement their responsibilities. It launched a number of schemes to finance projects for the benefit of the community, he said.

The Munxar local council benefited from three financing schemes that were used to buy solar panels and install free Wi-Fi facilities in the plaground.

Local councils can also benefit from the Urban Development Fund, set up by the planning authority. In fact, 21 contracts were signed in April to implement projects worth about €900,000 in 17 localities, Dr Said pointed out.

The works on the Munxar playground also included rebuilding part of the surrounding road, a multipurpose room, a reservoir with 22,000 gallons of water for the plants and new toilets.