A space for fun and support, The Y’s Play in the Park is for both kids and their parents

Operating in regional and remote Australia, The Y’s Play in the Park program has been creating a space of connection, fun and support for parents and kids for more than a decade.

Running year-round, the playgroup is intended for kids under five and their parents, meeting twice a week in Albany on Tuesdays and Fridays in Cull Park from 10am until noon.

The program is free and run at the playground, with The Y providing a few additional toys to play with and some fruit.

There’s also a story time, where the kids have a book read to them either by a librarian from the Albany Public Library on Tuesdays, or a staff member from The Y on Fridays.

Around the Great Southern, Play in the Park also runs in Mt Barker, Denmark, Cranbrook, Jerramungup and Walpole.

For parents, the playgroup provides an important source of connection and support.

“Our job is to help parents to connect to the community,” Play in the Park staff member Anneli Hawkins said.

“To find other parents to get to know them, but also help them if they suffer from mental health, mental health problems or financial problems, or if they need guidance with how to feed their babies or anything like that with health issues as well.”

Marcus and Stella Barkley have been attending Play in the Park with their daughter Lunar for almost two years.

Long wait lists have meant they’ve been unable to enrol their daughter in kindergarten so they’re glad to have somewhere to bring her to play and have fun.

“It’s just a great environment,” Marcus Barkley told the Advertiser.

Jenny Bevan has been coming with her granddaughter Tilly for about a year after stopping in one day.

“I saw all the kids here and I sort of do wonder what’s going on there,” she said.

“So I just dropped in and the ladies were very friendly and very welcoming.”