Ten-year-old Melinda Walker-Smith has launched a campaign to restore Cook Street Park in Mittagong to its former glory.
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Two years ago equipment started to disappear from the playground, which prompted Melinda to email Wingecarribee Shire Council for answers.
Melinda first wrote to the council in May 2017. However Melinda's mother Donna Walker-Smith said she didn't receive a response until May 2019, after she and her daughter sent a follow-up email.
Mrs Walker-Smith said she was not given any indication of when the park would be restored.
Melinda wrote to the Southern Highland News last week to share her story, in a bid to gain further community attention for her campaign.
"When I came to live here eight years ago the park was really good. There was a spider web, two swings, a seesaw, three wobbly things and a fort," she wrote in the letter.
"When I was eight the park equipment started to disappear. I wrote to the council but never heard back. Now it looks awful and no one wants to play in it."
By Melinda's estimation, there are at least 40 children living in the streets surrounding the park.
The 10-year-old said while there were other parks at Lake Alexandra Reserve and Welby, they were not as easily accessible for these children.
"The council is supposed to be encouraging us to get outside and play to be healthy and not indoors on screens, but how can we when they take away our playgrounds?" she said.
"At school we did a survey to find out who watched the most TV a day. Some kids said they watched two to three hours and others said they watched 30 to 60 minutes.
"I'd like a better park for all ages - teenagers, toddlers and primary school students."
Melinda said she hoped the park was restored before she became a teenager.
The 10-year-old said she would like to see a seesaw, swings, climbing equipment and a fort in the new park.
She said she would also like to see play equipment for people living with disabilities as assisted living residence Challenge House was in close proximity to the park.
Melinda's friends Caitlin Pankiv and Miah Famer also had suggestions for future equipment in the park.
"We need to get all of the weeds out and put in seesaws, a slide, a flying fox and a rock wall," Caitlin said.
"We could have a picnic area and spinning play equipment," Miah said.
A Wingecarribee Shire Council spokeswoman said the play equipment was removed due to safety concerns.
"The play equipment was removed because it had reached the end of its useful life," she said.
"The age and condition of the equipment meant that it was no longer safe for community use."
The spokeswoman said council "is currently considering the future renewal of Cook Street Playground" along with a number several other parks, in the development of a draft playground strategy.
"Once the draft strategy is finalised, it will be placed on public exhibition for community feedback. It is anticipated that this will take place by then end of the calendar year," the spokeswoman said.
"Works will not commence until the draft playground strategy is adopted by council.
"The draft playground strategy currently in development will focus on all abilities and seek out play opportunities in line with the State NSW's Everyone Can Play guidelines. Inclusive play opportunities are currently available at the nearby Lake Alexandra Reserve in Mittagong and Rotherwood Park in Renwick."
