Lawrence Community Playground spokeswoman Keily Smith said the community was delighted to learn of the $110,000 grant from Otago Community Trust during its October funding round recently.
The trust made grants totalling $2.5 million last month. The Waitaki Events Centre received the bulk of the grants, receiving $2m towards the construction of the centre.
Mrs Smith said the grant would go towards the third and final stage of a $340,000, three-year redevelopment of the town’s Whitehaven St Playground.
"This generous grant will help cover ... the remaining pieces of playground equipment which will include a web climber/infinity cube, sputnik, play chimes and the gold-mining theme platform with sand activities."
Earlier stages had included fencing and securing the site, and installing two further items of playground equipment and safety matting.
The project to date had been a combined community effort, Clutha District Lawrence-Tuapeka ward councillor Jock Martin said.
"Although we’re a small Otago rural town we love to embrace our travelling community, and share our local aroha.
"Traffic data shows more than half a million cars travel past the playground on their way to and from Central Otago each year.
"If by having a high-quality destination playground facility we can capture just 1% of those travellers, that’s a potential 20,000 visitors who may spend time and money in our town, while their children stop and have some fun."
Trust chief executive Jemma Adams said the trust was pleased to support projects that were "strongly community-led".
"Successful communities recognise the future is something they can build for themselves. The Lawrence community have taken the time to develop a vision of the future they want, and we are pleased to be able to help them turn their dream into a reality."
Further grants last month also went towards playground upgrades and development.
A $50,000 grant went to Ardgowan School (Oamaru) to help upgrade its covered outdoor play space; and $20,000 to Brockville School (Dunedin) towards new equipment for its junior playground.
