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

Logan Gardens All Abilities Playground (Logan Central)

Council:

Logan City Council

Playground location:

Civic Parade, Logan Central

Size:

2765m²

Council contact:

Senior Landscape Architect Heather Lindsay on (07) 3412 5360 or email council@logan.qld.gov.au

Site background

Playground site: Logan Gardens

Logan Gardens is a major recreation park that offers a wide variety of opportunities to a broad cross section of the community.

The gardens are strategically-located within the heart of Logan Central and have strong physical connections with complementary community facilities nearby.

Built almost 20 years ago, the original design intent of Logan Gardens' existing playground area was to provide inclusive play opportunities and wheelchair access. The challenge for this project is now to retro-fit the site's existing infrastructure and playground, so as to bring the play space into line with today's high standards of access and participation.

The re-development is set to revolutionise the existing playground and, most importantly, provide improved opportunities for inclusive and interactive play between children from all areas of the community, regardless of their ability.

Planning and design

The planning and design strategy of Logan's all abilities playground was devised after engaging Logan residents, the students of the Logan City Special School and Woodridge State Primary School, and children attending the Logan City Police Citizens Youth Club.

Opportunities and challenges for the re-development of the site were identified through:

• observation of the play experiences of children with varying levels of ability, both on-site at the existing playground and off-site at Logan City Special School
• story-boarding and drawing with children
• playground wish lists developed by local children
• on-site discussions with carers, teachers and health professionals about the requirements needed to turn the existing playground into an all abilities playground
• a survey of Logan residents.

Final design

Logan Gardens All Abilities Playground concept plan (PDF 222Kb)

Led by the ideas and visions of the community, final design plans aim to transform Logan Gardens' existing accessible playground into a modern space which addresses both social and physical access issues.

The design features four zones – sensory, junior, senior and swings – offering different activities and experiences. Central features of each play zone are as follows:

Sensory play zone:

• stage area
• giant musical instruments, including drums, gongs, cymbals and a horn
• sand pit and sand table
• sensory garden.

Junior play zone:

• existing fort
• new elevated play system, including a lookout
• double slide
• play panels
• climbing structures.

Senior play zone:

• adventure play system
• boardwalk and chill-out areas
• climbing mound.

Swings play zone:

• Various swings to suit all abilities.

Other features include:

• open play areas
• new artificial turf seating of varying shapes and sizes, resembling green hedges
• Interactive, textured, spinning totems featuring the names of children who helped create the playground
• rubberised soft-fall surfacing
• existing Liberty Swing and play structures.

Plans also feature easy access to nearby amenities, such as barbecue and picnic areas, and toilet facilities.

The playground's design was created by a Logan City Council team, led by Senior Landscape Architect Heather Lindsay.

Construction

Meningococcal survivor Michael Heynatz, 5, celebrated the start of construction phase of the Logan Gardens All Abilities Playground alongside Divisional Councillor Russell Lutton (from left), Mayor Pam Parker and the Member for Woodridge, Desley Scott

Logan Gardens' existing playground will be closed for redevelopment works from late 2009.

On 25 June 2009, the Member for Woodridge, Desley Scott, Logan Mayor Pam Parker and Divisional Councillor Russell Lutton unveiled a sign on-site promoting the upcoming start of construction. Five-year-old Meningococcal survivor Michael Heynatz and his family were among those also on-hand to celebrate the project's latest milestone.

For more information about the redevelopment, contact Logan City Council.

Last reviewed: 11 November 2009