Queensland All Abilities Playground Project

• About the project
• Playground site locations
  • Ayr
  • Blackwater
  • Broadbeach
  • Capalaba
  • Edmonton
  • Gympie
  • Landsborough
  • Logan Central
  • Mackay
  • Mossman
  • Mount Isa
  • New Mapoon
  • Normanton
  • Pialba
  • Texas
  • Thuringowa Central
  • Yeppoon
• Design Framework
• Pioneer Park
  • Physical development
  • Sensory
  • Learning
  • Facilities
  • Accessibility
• Resources
• Contacts

Capalaba Regional Park All Abilities Playground

Council:

Redland City Council

Playground location:

Capalaba Regional Park, Pittwin Road North, Capalaba

Size:

Approximately 3000m²

Council contact:

Project Manager and Landscape Architecture Advisor Emma Baker on 3829 8284, Monday to Thursday.

Site background

Playground site: Capalaba Regional Park

Located off Pittwin Road North, Capalaba Regional Park is the gateway to the Redland region.

The park was opened in 2002, after the former Redland Shire Council spent $1.5 million to enhance the parklands.

The inclusion of an all abilities playground forms part of the park's master plan, which details various improvements planned for the region's premier parklands.

The new play area will build upon and complement existing facilities, such as a flying fox and other traditional play infrastructure, and picnic, barbecue and toilet amenities.

Planning and design

Playground site: Capalaba Regional Park

A steering committee made up of members of the Redlands Disability Network was established in the early stages of the project. The group consisted of representatives from disability and community organisations, council staff and physical education teacher Michelle Rhodes, who has a child with a disability.

The committee met fortnightly over a period of two months and provided invaluable insight into the needs and desires of people with a disability, particularly children. The group played a major role in the selection of play equipment and in reviewing design plans to ensure maximum accessibility and participation.

A wide range of other activities were also held to capture the community's ideas and visions. In total, more than 200 local residents participated in these activities, which included:

• workshops with students, teachers and parents from Redland District Special School
• an extensive, four-month survey of park users, including a dedicated survey for park users with a disability and their carers
• a group workshop.

Final Design

Capalaba Regional Park All Abilities Playground staged construction design plan

The final design captures many of the things that children love to do when playing, from creative expression through to physical play.

The following design elements encourage creative expression, as well as sensory and exploratory play:

• Musical Forest
• sand play area
• natural plantings, mounds and hilly areas.

Children's desire to expend physical energy is also well catered for, thanks to the following play elements:

• giant climbing net
• existing flying fox with a new harness seat
• swings area, including a wheelchair-accessible Liberty Swing.

The play space's design also retains open play areas, encouraging ball play and group games, and integrates with existing play equipment and facilities, so that all children can continue to experience a full range of fun and challenging play.

Another central feature is easy access to nearby amenities, such as barbecue and picnic areas, and toilet facilities.

The playground's design was created by a Redland City Council team, led by Project Manager and Landscape Architecture Advisor Emma Baker.

MEDIA RELEASE: Designs unveiled for Capalaba all abilities playground (2 July 2009)

Construction

One of a series of hand-crafted lily pad mosaics created by local artists Carole Roche and Elise Parups, installed by Boystown volunteers, which feature in pathways at Capalaba Regional Park's new all abilities playground

Boystown volunteers helped kick things off in September 2008, assisting with the completion of a two-metre-wide, 1:20 gradient pathway.

The pathway provides access to the various different levels of the site and features hand-crafted lily pad mosaics created by Wellington Point artists Carol Roche and Elise Parups.

The pathway, which leads from the carpark at the top of the park and winds down to the site of the new play space, effectively opens up access to the parklands and, importantly, enables use by people who use mobility aids and parents with prams.

The playground is being constructed in stages. Stage 3 is expected to be completed by December 2009, before the school holiday season, and the final stage – Stage 4 – is planned for completion in the first half of 2010.

For more information, contact Redland City Council.

Last reviewed: 11 November 2009