SECTION 2:
Good morning. I’m very pleased to have this opportunity to say a little about two exciting new developments in the city: the Brackenside Open-Air Swimming Pool and the children’s Adventure Playground in Central Park. As many of you may know, the idea for these initiatives came from you, the public, in the extensive consultation exercise which the City Council conducted last year. And they have been realised using money from the SWRDC—the South West Regional Development Commission.
First of all, Brackenside Pool. As many of the older members of the audience will remember, there used to be a wonderful open-air pool on the sea front 30 years ago, but it had to close when it was judged to be unsafe. For the design of this new heated pool, we were very happy to secure the talents of internationally renowned architect Ellen Wendon, who has managed to combine a charming 1930s design, which fits in so well with many of the other buildings in the area, with up-to-the-minute features such as a recycling system—the only one of its kind in the world—which enables seawater to be used in the pool.
Now, there has been quite a bit of discussion in the local press about whether there would be enough room for the number of visitors we’re hoping to attract, but the design is deceptive, and there have been rigorous checks about capacity. Also, just in case you were wondering, we’re on schedule for a June 15th opening date and well within budget: a testimony to the excellent work of local contractors Hickman’s.
We hope that as many people as possible will be there on June 15th. We have engaged award-winning actress Coral White to declare the pool open, and there’ll be drinks and snacks available at the poolside. There’ll also be a competition for the public to decide on the sculpture we plan to have at the entrance: you will decide which famous historical figure from the city we should have.
And now, moving on to the Central Park Playground, which we’re pleased to announce has just won the Douglas Award for safety: the news came through only last week. The unique design is based on the concept of the Global Village, with the playground being divided into six areas showing different parts of the world—each with a representative feature. For example, there is a section on Asia, and this is represented by rides and equipment in the shape of snakes, orang-utans, tigers and so on—fauna native to the forests of the region.
Moving south to the Antarctic—we couldn’t run to an ice rink I’m afraid but opted instead for climbing blocks in the shape of mountains—I thought they could have had slides for the glaciers, but the designers did want to avoid being too literal! Then on to South America—and here the theme is El Dorado—games replicating the search for mines full of precious stones. And then moving up to North America, here there was considerable debate—I know the contribution of cinema and jazz was considered, but the designers finally opted for rockets and the International Space Station. Eastwards to Europe then, and perhaps the most traditional choice of all the areas: medieval castles and other fortifications. Then last, but not least, moving south to Africa and a whole set of wonderful mosaics and trails to represent the great rivers of this fascinating and varied continent.
Now, the opening date for our Global Playground is 10th July. And again, we’d love to see you there—so make a date and come and see this magnificent, original new amenity right in the heart of the city.
VOCABULARY:
- initiative /ɪˈnɪʃətɪv/ (n) – A new plan or action to solve a problem or achieve a goal.
SYN: plan, proposal
Example: The city launched an exciting initiative to improve public transportation. - consultation /ˌkɒnsəlˈteɪʃən/ (n) – The process of discussing something to get advice or feedback.
SYN: discussion, meeting
Example: The council held a public consultation to gather ideas for the new park. - extensive /ɪkˈstɛnsɪv/ (adj) – Large in amount or coverage.
SYN: broad, comprehensive
Example: The company conducted an extensive survey to understand customer preferences. - renowned /rɪˈnaʊnd/ (adj) – Famous and respected for something.
SYN: famous, celebrated
Example: She is a renowned scientist known for her groundbreaking research. - deceptive /dɪˈsɛptɪv/ (adj) – Giving a false impression or appearance.
SYN: misleading, false
Example: The design of the house is deceptive, making it look smaller than it is. - testimony /ˈtɛstəˌmoʊni/ (n) – A statement or proof given as evidence.
SYN: evidence, proof
Example: His success is a testimony to his hard work and determination. - rigorous /ˈrɪɡərəs/ (adj) – Thorough, strict, or demanding.
SYN: strict, thorough
Example: The students underwent rigorous training before the competition. - contractor /ˈkɒntræktər/ (n) – A person or company hired to perform a specific task or job.
SYN: builder, supplier
Example: The contractor finished the construction ahead of schedule. - historical figure /hɪˈstɒrɪkəl ˈfɪɡjər/ (n) – A person important in history.
SYN: famous person, historical icon
Example: The museum features a statue of a historical figure from the city’s past. - fauna /ˈfɔːnə/ (n) – Animals native to a particular region or environment.
SYN: wildlife, creatures
Example: The rainforest is home to diverse fauna, including rare species. - representative /ˌrɛprɪˈzɛntətɪv/ (adj) – Typical of a group or type.
SYN: typical, symbolic
Example: The snake is a representative animal of many Asian forests. - antarctic /ænˈtɑːrktɪk/ (adj) – Relating to the South Pole or its region.
SYN: polar, icy
Example: The scientists conducted research in the Antarctic region. - glacier /ˈɡlæsiər/ (n) – A large mass of ice that moves slowly over land.
SYN: ice field, iceberg
Example: The tourists admired the towering glacier in the mountains. - literal /ˈlɪtərəl/ (adj) – Taking words in their usual or most basic sense.
SYN: exact, straightforward
Example: His comment was meant as a joke, not to be taken literal. - replicate /ˈrɛplɪkeɪt/ (v) – To copy or reproduce something exactly.
SYN: duplicate, reproduce
Example: The experiment was replicated to confirm the results. - precious /ˈprɛʃəs/ (adj) – Very valuable or important.
SYN: valuable, priceless
Example: The necklace was adorned with precious stones. - medieval castles /ˌmɛdɪˈiːvəl ˈkæslz/ (n) – Large stone buildings from the Middle Ages.
SYN: ancient fortresses
Example: The tourists visited several medieval castles during their trip to Europe. - fortification /ˌfɔːrtɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/ (n) – A structure built to defend against attacks.
SYN: stronghold, defense
Example: The city walls were an important fortification against invaders. - mosaics /moʊˈzeɪɪks/ (n) – Pictures or patterns made with small pieces of stone, glass, or tiles.
SYN: artwork, tiles
Example: The church features intricate mosaics on the walls. - magnificent /mæɡˈnɪfɪsənt/ (adj) – Extremely beautiful or impressive.
SYN: splendid, grand
Example: The palace is a magnificent example of 18th-century architecture. - amenity /əˈmɛnɪti/ (n) – A facility or service that provides comfort or convenience.
SYN: facility, feature
Example: The hotel has excellent amenities, including a pool and gym.