They were busying themselves in a channel that weaved through the play space, splashing and filling watering cans.

Water and sand are the heroes of the third stage of the Strathdale Park Play Space upgrade, which opened this morning.

The milestone marks the end of a $745,000 project.

MAP: Strathdale Park Play Space

More on this story: Popular Bendigo play space upgraded

The city already has its sights set on its next regional play space upgrade - the ageing adventure play space at Lake Weeroona.

Greater Bendigo public space design coordinator Aaron Lindsay said the play space was over 20 years old and had reached the end of its asset life.

"We're going to start designing that over the next six months," he said.

"That'll be a really exciting project, as well."

The city is home to about 130 play spaces, a number of which are classified as regional play spaces.

Mr Lindsay said that was the highest tier.

The Eaglehawk Play Space is among the city's newest regional play spaces. Next month marks a year since it opened.

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Mr Lindsay said the city was making an effort to make each of the play spaces different, so they offered a range of experiences.

"We were really keen to get some water play into this play space just to add another element," he said.

"It's a pretty unique opportunity to work with water and also have sand in the same spot.

"I think it will be a really fun element, particularly over the summer."

The upgraded play space is expected to record 70,000 visitations a year.

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Mandurang mum Chelsea Mazzarino said the park would likely be the young family's go-to.

'It's so much more inviting, especially as the weather warms up," she said.

"The kids just love the water play."

She said the play space had equipment suitable for both her 16-month-old son, Luca, and three-year-old daughter, Florence.

"It's a great asset for this area,' Ms Mazzarino said.

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