Right: A wire loop tunnel called ‘The Hang’ will allow the more adventurous students to crawl out of the tower at the top.
ADVENTURE
PLAYGROUND
s e k s h a e a p t
W
ith the recent removal of the majestic Norfolk pines between Centennial Building and the Junior School, Dio committed to turning the area into an outdoor learning and recreational play space for our Junior and Junior High School girls. Senior girls will also be able to utilise the modern playground equipment for sport strength training. Stryde Landscapes began work on the project on 6 December and although it was due for completion during the April holidays, this has been delayed because of the nationwide lockdown situation. The concept was designed after workshops with the Junior School Enviro Council, staff, Board members and Boffa Miskell, our landscaping consultants. Our students told us they wanted musical instruments and a
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DIO TODAY
place to explore nature and gather with friends. They also wanted to have climbing frames, monkey bars and balance beams. Their main playground would have a huge tower with slides and be adventurous. These ideas formed the foundation of the detailed design, which features five different play elements over three sites. The main tower structure and adjoining agility trail provide challenge, balance and strength building for the girls. This space will also be used by our many sporting teams for training before and after school. Much of this equipment has been fabricated in Europe and has many different elements to give variety in how the tower is accessed, for example by ropes, ladders, stairs, and climbing frames. There is an added wire loop tunnel called ‘The Hang’ which allows the more adventurous students to
crawl out of the tower at the top – a first in any New Zealand playground. At the end of the main play space is the music area where you will find the melodic Babel drum, bongos and xylophone. There are areas for students to gather with other instruments, and the new wave seating under the existing pagoda provides space for spectators. From this area we are led by a zebra crossing into the woodland, which is designed for natural exploration. A trail through a mulch-based forest leads students to three gathering areas and along the way there are logs, balancing beams and boulders. Over time we will reintroduce our skink and weta farms for scientific study. For our smaller students, there is a purpose-built playground with a wooden structure, bridge, slide and
