Award 2
Best playground 2025
Ityamaiitpinna Yarta – Glenthorne National Park nature playspace is an award winning playspace set in amongst the historic building of the visitors hub. This newly proclaimed national park has seen major infrastructure works including access roads parking, walking and cycling paths. Situated between Lonsdale highway and South Road, it is a destination playspace for the southern areas.
The design was developed with the use of foundational work done by Warpulai Kumangka, DEW and other partners/stakeholders in advocating for inclusive decision making and promoting the integration of Indigenous knowledge and traditional practices. TCL was engaged by the client to do master planning and developed the original concepts. We were able to use the themes and layout developed by TCL to inform and add additional elements to stage 1 and 2 design and design an additional stage 3, further down the creek to increase capacity and provide elements for older users.
The creative inclusion of subtle references to the sites varied history evokes children’s sense of curiosity and wonder. Drawing on these elements allowed us to create unique play elements reflecting the comprehensive consultation process completed prior to our involvement.
The design is centred around the existing swale which was formed and naturalised with stone and salvaged trees, provide endless play opportunities. As children play and wander down the creek with multiple crossing and challenges, they will find a multitude of creative a physical play experiences. Large, salvaged trees have been creatively upended and replanted to provide a stand for cultural sculptures towering in the sky and telling the story of the season changes and the significant features of these times.
Towers and slides representing the large hollow red gums you will see along rivers in the flinders rangers offer up exploration as children clamber over exposed roots to climb inside to reach the top to slide down to find another challenge to ascend again.
Catering to a range of abilities and ways in which children interact with their environment the construction of this play space offers up a range of play and sensory experiences to further improve inclusive play opportunities.
The build took place over two winter seasons and was incredibly challenging with the site being bordered by steep clay hills. Creative construction processes were required to utilise the salvaged natural materials on site, using rocks up to 20tonne and large trees salvaged from the South Rd extension works. Balancing the nature-inspired design brief with ensuring all elements met strict playspace standards as well as ensuring the provision of risk for all and disability access and inclusion also required creativity from the team.
All play elements were custom fabricated with the exception of the wheelchair spinner and rocker, to harmonise with the natural aesthetic these elements were painted to ensure they complemented the natural space within which they sit.
A Kaurna/Narrunga Burka and local Kaurna artist were engaged to design and construct cultural sculptures and carvings scattered throughout the space to highlight local Kaurna history and stories and contribute to the wonder experienced by children as they explore the space.
Materials
“Client testimonial goes here”
Ever wondered what our towns and cities would be like if children designed them?
Climbing Tree prides itself on engaging with children from design right through to construction. With a background in education our team is experienced in the diversity of children’s language – both spoken and unspoken. We believe that listening to the children’s voice serves as a great foundation for good design.
We also consider collaboration with children a design development process in its own right. We ensure that children are actively engaged and involved throughout the planning of our projects, and give them, our most important customers, a chance to critically reflect, form and express their own opinions about what we are creating for them.
Frequently Asked Questions
For too long schools have been institutions for the industrial capitalist society we live in and we have lost sight of the essence of life itself. According to studies by Nature Play SA, our children spend less than 2 hours a day outside and 87 percent of children spend more time playing indoors than outdoors. Additionally, in South Australia, children spend an average of 4.5 hours a day in front of a screen, exceeding the national average by half an hour! We are at a crucial point in history where we need to give our children valuable exposure to the natural world through initiatives such as Nature Play SA.
How can we expect the next generation to care for something they have had no exposure to? Children spend 7 hours a day for 13 years of their lives in schools so what a great opportunity to give these students just a little exposure to beautiful natural environments where they can play, learn, relax, and develop a love and understanding for mother nature and the great outdoors.
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