We did it! . . . CPlay chairman Owen Jackson celebrates reaching the fundraising target at the Party in the Playground on Sunday. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

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Construction of the new Caroline Bay playground is to begin next month, with nearly $2.5 million in the bank.

A ‘‘Party in the Playground’’ was held on Sunday to celebrate the CPlay committee meeting the initial $2.2 million target, and to thank the community for the support received over the past 15 months.

CPlay chairman Owen Jackson said a 15% cost increase over the fundraising period saw the committee faced with a revised target of $2.5 million, but as of Tuesday morning, the committee was just $17,000 away from raising the extra $300,000.

Major grants received recently included Lotteries New Zealand ($240,000), Aoraki Foundation ($20,000), Trust Aoraki ($30,000) and Alpine Energy ($10,900).

Mr Jackson said it had been a phenomenal effort for the community to raise the money.

“We started with zero dollars in the bank and at that stage $2.2 million seemed like a very long way off, but after making a successful submission to the Timaru District Council to provide half what was required we have steadily worked our way to the target and achieved that only just last week.’’ “The CPlay team of volunteers have worked incredibly hard over the past 15 months to engage with the community and in return South Canterbury have been extremely generous in what have been generally trying times, particularly in the face of Covid.”

CPlay project manager Graham Ward said it was planned for work to start on the playground in July or August, with the first equipment due to arrive in September.

“The initial works will involve removal of the existing playground equipment and preparation of the ground for concrete foundations to be constructed prior to erecting each item of equipment.

“The large items, such as the lighthouse and ship wreck, are due mid›October.”

After the equipment is installed, there will be several weeks’ work to finish off safety matting and surface finishes, Mr Ward said.

“The plan is to have the playground open to the public again in January 2023.’’

However, Mr Ward cautioned that the commercial world was encountering delays and cost increases in all sorts of areas, and the committee generally had no control over those details.

‘‘We are monitoring those items that relate to our equipment to identify any likely issues early so we can adjust the plan accordingly.’’

Mr Ward said the last phase of design being worked on was the cream on the top.

‘‘The art, heritage, education, landscaping, surfacing and colour that will really take this playground to another level — all the little things that provide interest, inspire curiosity and spark imagination.”

Design team member Chris Fauth said the team had signed off on and agreed all key play equipment with its fixed›price contract with The Playground Centre.

“We are working systematically through surfacing with a supplier and are close to establishing a contract with them for all specialised surfacing.

‘‘We see the surfacing as something to provide safety, durability and accessibility, but also something that adds a high level of design, education and colour and is another medium to tell our Timaru story in the playground space.

“We are also working at establishing relationships with locals to source some of our remaining play and landscaping elements.”