- Location
- Perth, Australia
Play Priorities
Waabiny Park forms part of the innovative Bentley 360 project, a sustainable and affordable housing project in Perth.
Waabiny Park was created by the Department of Communities in partnership with landscape architects PLACE Laboratory and the local community, with a focus on making the park a positive, welcoming and playful space for current and future generations. It’s a new beginning for the 12-hectare site which had been vacant since the demolition of a large public housing complex built in the 1960s.
Waabiny is the Noongar word for ‘play’ or ‘playtime’. The Noongar are the Traditional Owners of the land on which the park has been built. Celebrating the site’s heritage while recognising its role in building a strong community was integral to the design of the park and playground.
In recognition of the project’s outstanding social and recreation outcomes, Bentley 360 Waabiny Park received the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) 2020 Landscape Architecture Award for Play Spaces.
Fun Solution
This is play on a grand scale! This visually stunning playground features several distinct playspaces including a playground, outdoor games area, scooter and bike tracks, as well as an outdoor classroom.
In keeping with the sustainable themes of the Bentley 360 development project, the play equipment is set within a natural, landscaped environment but it’s finished in bright, bold custom colours to inspire parkgoers to engage in energetic, active and imaginative play.
The modified Fitness Kombination 701 and Eagles Lair provide children of all ages and abilities with the opportunity to interact and explore a multitude of play experiences together. In particular, the Fitness Kombination is cleverly designed to feature two of each activity which encourages children to pair up and race each other. It also doubles as a fitness circuit for adults, emphasising how contemporary playground design can contribute to whole-of-community wellbeing.