The ten additional tree plantings in the design will help to achieve increased tree canopy coverage.

We will be salvaging parts of the redundant play equipment to be used elsewhere and existing mulch of suitable condition will be reused. Much of the new play equipment will be timber which has a very low carbon footprint and can be easily recycled.

• New paths connect existing paths for safe access to specific play features.
• Designs and features are inclusive and cater for various age groups and abilities.
• Sensory exploration is an important part of young people’s development. New playground features include interactive, baubles, tunnel for quiet play, a telescope and shop counter for imagination play, various materials for engaging touch, bright colours for sight stimulation, movement and balance activities, as well as stimulating plants.

It’s great to plant trees, but what about the plants!? This design incorporates ‘Halo Plantings’ which incorporates rocks and understorey planting around the base of a tree to increase wildlife habitat and the diversity of native fauna.

“Nature play...gets children active or thinking actively outdoors, ...building skills and ability to play without the need for parental or adult control.” - 16 July 2016, Nature Play Queensland.

Nature Play encourages children to use their environment to play, build and interact with in any way they want. Structured playgrounds make this difficult to achieve. Through our playground renewals, we aim to encourage more natural play by including rocks, logs, bark chips, plants, and garden beds.

To combat the urban heat island effect, we are creating a smaller, play space footprint to return more area to cooler, irrigated lawn. We are minimising rubber softfall use to high wear areas only and to allow access to certain play items. Our urban heat mapping study reveals rubber softfall is one of the hottest materials in our parks & reserves.