PLAYSCAPE WITH A VIEW

PLAYSCAPE WITH A VIEW Built to handle the conditions, this hardy coastal playground off ers plenty of fun AND million dollar views

Proving the old adage that location is everything, the newly developed Christsen Park is a public greenspace situated on the foreshore of picturesque Bargara Beach, 15 kilometres east of Bundaberg. Serving a growing coastal community, the park was part of a signifi cant Bundaberg Regional Council masterplan aimed at improving public assets in the region.

The park received a $1.2 million overhaul that saw the undeveloped site transformed to include picnic settings and shelters, barbecues, park furniture inclusions and foreshore loungers, together with new public amenities, landscaped gardens, and a new all-ages, all-abilities playspace by WillPlay.

48 | ODS Exemplary Showcase Located next to a popular tidal lagoon and patrolled surf beach, the play area was an important element in the foreshore upgrade project. Under the direction of Bundaberg Council, who desired a destination park, play equipment specialist WillPlay was contracted to supply and install play structures and softfall surfacing. Working with the contours of the planned paths and infrastructure that would eventually be installed in the park, WillPlay also designed the play zone layout, ensuring it would allow natural flow of movement around existing trees, integrate into the surrounding landscape as it developed across the project, and off er unobstructed views towards the ocean. Manufactured in Australia, WillPlay’s structures are made of powdercoated stainless steel, marinegrade aluminium and recycled plastic to ensure they can handle the impact of Australia’s harsh climate. Built to last, the equipment chosen for Christsen Park is coastal-spec rated. Given the positioning of the equipment in a seaside environment, with prevailing onshore winds, using coastal-spec rated units was a key factor in meeting Council’s expectation of longevity and durability. With no additional cleaning or extensive preventative maintenance required to keep it looking good, this playground will continue to provide oodles of fun for little adventurers for years to come.

Council’s brief for a playspace suitable for all ages, with a separate space for toddlers and additional zones designated as junior and teen spaces, was met by selecting equipment from a variety of WillPlay’s standard collections. Working across the company’s PlayPark, Giant TreeHouse, FairyTales and Street Climber ranges, the play structures fi t a diverse spectrum of play and physical challenges, tied together with a custom colour scheme that generates a sense of unity across the entire design.

To meet the Australian safety standards for playgrounds, Christsen Park playspace also includes Playkote precoat SBR wet-pour rubber surfacing and Takura engineered softfall, which is a pine-based loose softfall surfacing that is cleaner and longer lasting than conventional bark. Soft underfoot and springy enough for rough play, these safety-orientated ground options mean parents and carers can rest easy as their curious explorers play with abandon. Ahhh to be young again! Off ering a host of play opportunities that run the gauntlet of ages from tiny tykes to torpid teens, this vibrant and durable playspace is a welcome addition to the developing public spaces of this growing coastal community.

PROJECT PARTICULARS Client Bundaberg Regional Council Location Bargara Beach, Queensland SBR Softfall Surfacing Contractors Australia (SCA) Engineered Softfall Takura Bark & Compost Design, Supply & Install WillPlay

COMPANY WillPlay P 1300 132 047 E info@willplay.com.au W willplay.com.au