Primary’s new

“The aesthetics and fit with the local area are also very important. A well-designed space will combine these factors and ensure the installation delivers not just in the short term but for years to come.”

When it comes to safety needs, Cowie advises to leave it to the professionals. “Safety in a playground is not worth guessing as there are many regulations to abide by within the NZ Playground Safety Standards. Some general wear and tear checks can be taught to school maintenance staff, however, when in doubt contact your playground supplier.”

Michael Klaja from ReHarvest Timber Products Limited said playgrounds have changed dramatically over the past ten years. “They are becoming more like assault courses that challenge kids of all ages and make the whole experience more fun,” he said. A mulch playground surfacing specialist, Michael says: “It never ceases to amaze me that a discarded waste product dumped in the yard can be completely re-engineered into premium mulch we see cushioning the fall for children across the North Island.

“There is a feel-good component for everyone involved in the process. Installing surfacing material made from recycling pallets that would have ended up in landfill, in round figures 100,000m3 that didn’t go into the ground every year, that in itself is good news and resonates with schools passionate about sustainability.”

So, when Alexandra Primary School received their funding from the Schools Investment Package, students overwhelmingly voted to replace their old playground, which had been closed for safety reasons. The vote led Principal Fiona Mackley to begin the search for a suitable playground provider.

Mackley knew she wanted the new playground to “be fit for younger students as well as provide challenges up to Year 8”. The aim was for the new design to “encourage safe risk taking and to develop students’ strength and coordination”.

With these goals in mind, Fiona reached out to Park Supplies & Playgrounds via their website and was quickly put in touch with resident Playground Consultant Melissa Cowie. Despite the challenges of the Covid-19 period, Fiona and Melissa were able to have a successful consultation over Zoom.

Mackley said: “Mel got really creative with the playground design and was able to utilise our available funding to the absolute maximum. The proposal was very comprehensive; it included all health and safety considerations as well as options for ground cover.”

Three proposals were considered, but Alexandra Primary ultimately chose Park Supplies & Playgrounds’ design. The decision came down to a matter of quality, and the school’s Board of Trustees was particularly drawn to the fact that all Park Supplies & Playgrounds’ equipment is made in New Zealand.

During the installation, Managing Director Jon

Hooper ensured the job was done efficiently and safely, despite an initial hiccup with a Dunedin-based subcontractor. Hooper ended up flying in their Auckland-based team to ensure a smooth installation. Fiona says the students were kept informed and engaged throughout the process, and that the finished playground has already had a positive impact on their community.

“It’s amazing to see how the children are so supportive and work together as a team. I would definitely go back to [Park Supplies & Playgrounds] for my next playground project. All the key people were fantastic to work with [and] communication was seamless.”