Tamworth Regional Council parks, paths and playgrounds have higher visitor numbers as COVID-19 rules relax

Tamworth Regional Council (TRC) facilities are starting to come back to life. More than 150 playgrounds in the area reopened last month after seven weeks of being fenced off, and there's been a considerable upswing in their use.

TRC sport and recreation manager Paul Kelly said the number of people making use of council facilities was "considerably high".

The skate park, the Kable Avenue playground, the adventure playground and the Marsupial Park are among popular haunts for families keen to get back outdoors after isolation.

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But it's not just the kids giving council facilities a workout.

"Throughout our whole network of paths, cycleways, footpaths, public open spaces ... a lot of our recreation areas were getting used by mums and dads and families trying to get out," Mr Kelly said.

"Absolutely, we're seeing an increase."

Tamworth's velodrome and criterium track, along with the mountain bike park in North Tamworth, remained open throughout the pandemic and gave locals a chance to spin their wheels.

The Tamworth Marsupial Park was the latest park to reopen about a week ago, but there are currently no plans to open up barbecue areas for use.

Gathering restrictions outdoors are still limited to ten, and council earmarked a change in that rule as the catalyst for opening up those areas again.

"Once we can start to gather in groups larger than ten, that's when council will reopen our barbecues," Mr Kelly said.

"We're just trying to take the safety approach that if we open a barbecue, it does encourage gathering, and quite often that gathering would be more than ten."

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