ALBURY'S second biggest playground will be officially opened on Sunday.
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The children's hub is a centrepiece of the largest upgrade to National Foresters Grove since its dedication alongside Lavington's Wagga Road in 1988.
The revamped area also includes a new Lavington Lions Club memorial with the names of deceased members affixed to a concrete strip in front of the park's billabong.
Joanne Duffy, who had been left distraught after finding the previous wall demolished on an Easter visit to honour her baker father Joe Smart, who died last year, is pleased a new memorial has emerged.
However, she believes it could be more appealing.
"If it had some planter boxes or plants or mosaic tiles and something with words saying 'reflection area' I think it would be more attractive," Mrs Duffy said.
"From the roadside it looks a bit sparse.
"To me it's too low for a seat and I can see little kids running along on it and falling off."
However, Mrs Duffy's mother Fay Smart is pleased with the memorial to her late husband, who is one of 26 Lions Club members to have their names and year of death appear on plaques.
In an email sent this week to Mrs Duffy, the council's team leader parks and recreation David Armstrong lauded the new reflection area as a positive.
"I believe this is a great outcome for the replacement for the wall," Mr Armstrong wrote.
"I know this is echoed by the representatives of the Lions Club who we have been liaising with."
The new area will be opened at 11.30am on Sunday as part of a celebration which will run from 11am to 1pm.
Mayor Kevin Mack, member for Albury Justin Clancy and timber industry leader Peter Crowe will be special guests.
The $350,000 upgrade was funded through $300,000 of NSW government money and $50,000 from Albury Council.
Playground features include a flying fox, climbing frames and hammock swing.
A basketball ring, exercise equipment and skateboard ledge have also been erected.
The upgrade makes Foresters Grove the second biggest playground in Albury behind Oddies Creek Park's children's area which recently expanded with a new climbing apparatus.
