- Partners
- Hastings District Council
- Location
- Hastings, New Zealand
- Market
- Councils & Developers
“Our community playground upgrade is a pure delight. The fully fenced playground is a space for whanau to come and play safely. It is a place for our whole community to enjoy with hours of fun for everyone.”
Kirsty Oosterkamp, Hastings District Council
By the community, for the community
St Leonards Park Playground is themed to reflect the district’s agriculture sector and the nearby Stortford Lodge saleyards. Designed and constructed by Playground Centre the park features bespoke themed play equipment encouraging imaginative playtime adventures.
As part of the Raureka Parks Reserve Management Plan, Hastings District Council consulted with the local community to upgrade the St Leonards Park precinct. The community identified the need to encourage visitors to stay longer and to provide safe access from busy Southampton Street.
Drawing inspiration from the community’s strong connection to their agricultural heritage, Playground Centre designed a fully fenced, farm-themed playground for the rest and recreation area, which also includes picnic tables, shade and amenities for relaxing and refuelling.
Collaboration
Playground Centre collaborated with Hastings District Council to create a themed adventure playground. This long-awaited play space is the result of focused and innovative thinking that held community at its heart.
The design and layout of the individual elements were refined and adapted, in consultation with both the community and council, to deliver a complete package of play equipment to engage and delight. Across the project’s development we worked collaboratively to keep within budget while realising the vision for a themed play space that captures the close-knit neighbourhood’s connection to farming life. The result is a playground that invites imaginative and joy-filled play.
Solution
Community connection is the key focus for this vibrant adventure and recreation area, bringing the young and the young-at-heart together for hours of family fun.
The bespoke main tower with a suspended hanging basket for thrilling sky-high fun is the focal point of the playground. Little and big kids adore climbing the rope ladders, swooshing down the Tube Slide, swinging in the basket and adventuring in this dynamic play piece.
The specially designed farm-themed pieces inspire interaction where children can create stories around their playtime pretending to be driving livestock to markets or be sheep farmers or shearers – emulating those they admire in their own community.
The monstrous double-the-fun Cyclops Snake Swing holds between five and nine swingers who can sit or stand on the chunky plaited rope. The challenging swing requires teamwork and co-ordination, giving kids a mental and physical workout.
Of course, no playground would be complete without an exhilarating swing set. Children can soar high and laugh hard on the Flying Saucer Double Frame, which features an extra-large basket swing that caters for one to five children at a time. Lie down, stand up, hang from below or swing with friends - the options for energy-fuelled play are endless.
And to really set things in motion, the 2-Seater Timber Seesaw promises playtime for the grown-ups (who can pretend they are only bouncing up and down for the benefit of their young charges). Made from sturdy wood and with a soft bounce bumper, this seesaw offers a rocking good time.
By embracing and taking pride in their community’s culture and heritage, the Council and the community has created a meaningful, memorable and most of all fun play experience for generations of children who will play in St Leonards Park. This truly is an exemplar of playground design that reflects a community’s focus.
Feeling inspired? Talk to one of our playground design and build specialists today.
