Blackwater All Abilities Playground
- Council:
- Central Highlands Regional Council
- Playground location:
- Blain Street, Blackwater
- Size:
- Approximately 7000m2 (total works approximately 14,000m2)
- Council contact:
- Council's Community Development Officer Lynda Connell or Arts and Cultural Development Officer Craig Ball on (07) 4980 5555, or Disability Services Local Area Coordinator Toni Woodrow on (07) 4986 1729
More information about the Blackwater All Abilities Playground is available from the Central Highlands Regional Council website.
Site background
Blain Street park site
Blackwater is a town located approximately 190 kilometres inland from Rockhampton.
With a large population of families with young children and limited facilities for people with a disability, the creation of recreational space which caters to people of all ages and abilities has received widespread community support.
The site location for a new all abilities recreation space has also placed the project literally at the heart of the Blackwater community. Positioned off Blain Street, the new play space is ideally-located opposite the area's only shopping centre and nearby residential housing.
With a central location and strong community support, Blackwater's all abilities play space is destined to be a hugely popular hub for community recreation.
Planning and design
Children, teachers and designers plan the Blackwater playground together
A community engagement strategy was developed to identify the needs and aspirations of community members regarding the redevelopment of the Blain Street park.
Local residents' ideas and visions were gathered and explored throughout the planning and design process via a wide range of engagement activities, including:
- workshops for children of all ages at three local schools
- a Fun in the Park community day, where people wrote, drew, painted, modelled, collaged and explained their vision for the park
- the establishment of a focus groups, comprising of people who registered their interest during the Fun in the Park event
- community surveys
- consultation with key stakeholders, such as the Carers Group, Arts and Cultural Group, Seniors, Blackwater Youth Council and Parks and Gardens' crews.
Council also established a regular newsletter called 'Happenings in the park' to keep people informed and updated on the recreation spaces' progress.
Displays at major regional events, such as the official opening of the Blackwater International Coal Centre and the Curragh Mine Open Day, as well as media coverage and information on council's website, have also helped to spread the word about the innovative, new recreational space under development.
Project information and concept plans have also been on display at council offices, the local library, Disability Services' Local Area Coordination Office and local businesses.
Design plans are currently under review.
For more information, contact Central Highlands Regional Council.
Creation - Art in the Park
More than 200 local residents put their artistic talents into action during a free Art in the Park event at Community Services Park from 4-5 April 2009.
Hosted by Central Highlands Regional Council, the two-day community event was held to involve community members in the creation process.
Several artists were on-hand to share their talents, including Trisha Greinke, who helped people make clay tiles for installation in the playground, and Sue Kraatz, who conducted a banner-making workshop.
Other activities included circus, photography, x-ray art, recycled art and theatre sports workshops, as well as sausage sizzles and live music.
Last reviewed: 11 November 2009