Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Education Minister Rob Stokes launched an expanded Share Our Space Program on April 10 which will benefit 81 public schools across the state. 

The $30 million Share Our Space Program follows the $120 million commitment on April 9 to secure strategic open spaces for public use and to build more than 200 new playgrounds.

Ms Berejiklian said she was pleased to take action to address this.

“It has never made sense to me that schools are locked up over the holiday period,” she said.

“The trial last summer was so successful we are delighted to be extending it to almost double the number of schools, giving families more options to use valuable open space in communities right across the state."

Mr Stokes said school playgrounds were valuable assets and by making them accessible outside of the school term, they can provide a broader benefit to the whole community, including opportunities for sport on school ovals.

“We learned a lot from the pilot program. Kids don’t want to be stuck indoors during the holidays, and communities respected and welcomed having access to their outdoor school facilities,” Mr Stokes said.

Participating schools will receive a $5000 grant that they can use to help upgrade their facilities for community and school use. 

The playgrounds will be open from 8am to 6pm, seven days a week, from April 16 to 27.