At Claremont Special School in Silkstone, Queensland, play is more than recreation, it is a vital tool for learning, development and connection. Responding to the needs of a growing student cohort, the school embarked on a project to reimagine its outdoor environments. Having utilised numerous play sculptures by Jungle Play sculptures in other playspaces around the campus, the school were keen to continue with the sculptural play theme but also wished to incorporate traditional play equipment to provide a well-rounded play experience.

Playspace design specialists Urban Play were engaged to design two distinct new playgrounds tailored to different age groups and abilities. The client’s needs were both clear and layered: utilise the specified Jungle Play cubbies and creatures together with traditional play equipment to create engaging, inclusive and accessible play zones that support a wide spectrum of physical and cognitive needs, while embedding strong thematic narratives that would spark imagination and connection to nature. Importantly, the design needed to work within an existing, constrained site, retaining mature trees, resolving drainage issues and navigating the complexities of a highly serviced school environment.

Urban Play responded to the call with gusto, collaborating with play equipment experts Jungle Play to develop a site that tells a story through the landscape. The junior playspace draws inspiration from native pollinators, centred around a bee-theme that references an existing beehive on site. Sculptural elements from Jungle Play, including oversized bees, a beehive and a ladybird, anchor the space, transforming it into an immersive setting where play and learning intersect. 

Urban Play included a circular pathway that integrates movement and circulation, while features such as swings, a sandpit, spinning elements and an inclusive trampoline ensure accessibility and variety for all users. 

In contrast, the senior play zone introduces a more challenging, skill-based environment for older cohorts. Inspired by a green frog theme, this space encourages climbing, exploration and social interaction through more complex play structures. 

Central to this is Urban Play’s Orbit climbing unit, which functions as both a physical challenge and a social hub. Complementary elements such as tactile totems, domes and rubberised surfaces provide sensory engagement while maintaining safety and durability.

Across both spaces, Jungle Play’s contribution to the project is particularly evident in the sculptural quality of the play elements. Featuring two vibrant cubby houses, the Beehive and the Gum Leaf Pod, as well as several animal-inspired climbers, each element contributes to a cohesive and imaginative environment that invites exploration at multiple levels. 

Not without its challenges, site access proved complex on the project, with limited entry points requiring coordination with neighbouring properties to facilitate construction. Existing underground services and established trees further constrained the layout, demanding precise planning to ensure both safety and environmental protection. In the senior play area, sloping terrain required innovative solutions that included tapered rubber surfacing and the adaptive reuse of sandstone for landscape retaining and informal seating.

Since completion, these transformed spaces have been enthusiastically embraced by the school community. Offering a diverse range of experiences that support physical development, sensory engagement and social interaction, the reimagined play zones ensure every student, regardless of ability, can participate meaningfully in play.

Ultimately, the project highlights the value of thoughtful, inclusive design. Through Urban Play’s innovation and Jungle Play’s distinctive sculptures, Claremont Special School now benefits from environments that are joyful spaces where imagination, movement and connection come together in equal measure.

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PROJECT PARTICULARS

CLIENT Claremont Special School

LOCATION Silkstone, Queensland

PLAY EQUIPMENT Jungle Play

PLAYSPACE DESIGN & BUILD Urban Play