Works on the reconstruction and equipping of the children's playground in the courtyard of the main Olga Ban Nursery School in Pazin have been completed, with the City of Pazin acting as the project lead. The renovated space features new, modern and safe play equipment, as well as educational content that encourages children's play, learning and development.
The courtyard has been transformed into a more rounded and pleasant space for children's daily outdoor activities. Existing low walls in the surrounding area have been arranged, and benches have been renovated. Additionally, to increase child safety, the Olga Ban Nursery School in Pazin installed a fence that fully encloses the playground area and separates it from other surfaces.
Although the works are finished, the playground will not yet be open for use. The newly sown grass requires time to grow and establish roots well enough to withstand daily play, with the start of use expected in spring, depending on weather conditions and the state of the lawn.
The City of Pazin was awarded non-repayable funds amounting to 177,250.78 euros through the Local Action Group in Fisheries (LAG) 'Istarski švoj'. The project 'Reconstruction and equipping of the children's playground within the Olga Ban Nursery School' is co-financed by funds from the European Fund for Maritime Affairs, Fisheries and Aquaculture, the Fisheries and Aquaculture Programme, under Measure 4 'Promotion of fishing, aquaculture and maritime heritage with a unique visual identity' from the Local Development Strategy in Fisheries for the 2021–2027 programming period, via the Local Action Group in Fisheries 'Istarski švoj'.
The project also plans activities that link play, learning and the preservation of maritime heritage. Educational workshops on marine biodiversity and local marine organisms will be conducted in cooperation with scientific experts, marine biologists from the Faculty of Science in Pula, in the field of marine science. The performance of a participatory play on the preservation of marine biodiversity will include a specially designed children's play adapted for nursery-age children.
Cooperation with parents and the local community will be achieved through information workshops and open days at the playground, with parents being involved in educating children about the importance of preserving the sea. Continuous dialogue and knowledge exchange will take place through regular cooperation between project partners in developing content and evaluating the effects of implemented activities. Educational materials, experiences and results from workshops and plays will also be used in future projects related to the education and promotion of fishing, aquaculture and maritime heritage.
A formal partnership with the Olga Ban Nursery School in Pazin and the scientific community will be established by signing a cooperation agreement for the implementation of joint and educational activities.
