Mackay All Abilities Playground
- Council:
- Mackay Regional Council
- Playground location:
- Iluka Park, Binnington Esplanade, East Mackay
- Size:
- approximately 2500m2
- Council contact:
- Coordinator, Community Development, Robert Ryan on 1300 622 529 or email robert.ryan@mackay.qld.gov.au
Site background
Playground site: Iluka Park
With its beachside location, direct access to the Sandfly Creek Environmental Reserve and expansive open areas, Mackay's Iluka Park presents an idyllic setting for the community's new all abilities playground.
Importantly, the site is also celebrated for its rich history as a meeting place, with Aboriginal groups like the Yuibera and Wiri people utilising it as a prime location to live and fish.
The park's existing features include a grass mound amphitheatre and a half-court basketball facility. A number of well-established trees also provide for natural shade and resting areas throughout the grounds.
The inclusion of an all abilities play space at Iluka Park will enable children of all abilities to participate in play and experience all that the parklands have to offer.
Planning and design
A number of community consultation sessions were held during the information-gathering stage of the playground, enabling the landscape architect to develop a design that reflected the needs and aspirations of local residents and all potential users of the play space.
Students from two local schools provided their unique ideas and designs by completing special activity books, while observations of children at play also provided invaluable insight into the needs of children. Local residents were also able to provide their thoughts via council's website, utilising an online comments feature.
Following the development of the initial concept design, a community workshop was held to further develop the design. Design plans were also displayed in public libraries and posted on council's website, to ensure maximum community participation and feedback.
Council's project team were encouraged by the high level of community participation and constructive feedback during the playground's planning and design phase, which indicated strong support for a facility of this kind in Mackay.
Final design
Design plans for Mackay's all abilities playground at Iluka Park seek to provide children with a range of play experiences, while providing a free and safe community space where families could relax and enjoy time together.
The design seeks to maximise opportunities for children to interact and develop social skills through play, and features several unique play spaces.
Exploratory and creative spaces include a plant maze, a dry creek bed, and a lookout and sand play area. These spaces were designed to encourage children's creativity, imagination and exploration. This is achieved through:
- different shapes, textures and heights
- various sensory plantings and raised beds
- an elevated performance space which incorporates musical elements, such as chimes and tom toms.
Other spaces are targeted at different age levels and incorporate a range of activities, promoting children's use of movement to encourage the development of the mind and body. Play elements featured include:
- a climbing structure
- double swing
- giro spinner
- hand water pump
- circle swing.
Another feature is a large kick-about area for group ball games.
A train feature has also been designed to promote awareness of train-crossing safety.
Other design elements and facilities include perimeter fencing, shade sails, bike racks and extensive plantings, plus accessible picnic, drinking fountain and upgraded toilet facilities.
The design also complements existing facilities, including a natural amphitheatre and half-court basketball facility.
The playground's design was created by Landscape Architect Ian Bentley, formerly of the Mackay Regional Council.
NOTE: Conceptual plans are examples only, so please refer to final or finishing plans to view final design elements.
Construction
Construction on the Mackay’s all abilities playground started in August 2009 and is due for completion late 2009.
For more information, contact Mackay Regional Council.
Last reviewed: 11 November 2009