NO RESERVE-ATIONS NEEDED

Innovative design, functional, inclusive, robust, sustainable and flexible are just some of the words used to describe the Reserve 871 playground at The Ponds residential development in Blacktown from playspace experts Proludic.

A successful collaboration between Proludic and Blacktown City Council, the Reserve 871 playspace is an award-winning playground that exceeds expectations. Utilising the most up-to-date inclusive-play design principles, the playground is a full-access recreation facility built to function as a regional park in the Western Sydney area. The space caters for children of all ages and abilities, and integrates both natural and designed play elements to allow for multi-generational play.

Proludic functioned as both design consultant and supplier and installer of the playground equipment for the playground within Reserve 871. Working from design to construction put Proludic across the entire project from beginning to end, helping to shape the vision for the park successfully. The innovative and flexible design of Reserve 871 meets the latest Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) studies, as designed by Blacktown City Counctil, to ensure it complies with Australian Standards for safety, maintenance access and crime minimisation.

A standout feature of the playspace is the Adventure Treehouse Tower that sits at the centre of the play area. The treehouse-motif structure encourages users to climb to the dizzying heights before sliding swiftly down to the ground via the large metal slide. In addition, wheelchair accessible activities provide children an opportunity to engage through play while in their wheelchairs or spend supervised time out of their wheelchair, with assistance, while other inclusive activities encourage social interaction, in addition to physically and mentally stimulating activities for all.

Other key pieces include a net structure and inground trampolines, a pod swing and climbing course with a number of challenging obstacles, together with a variety of spinners and slides that provide hours of fun.

The greater amenities of the park include seating, shade shelters, and even a sand pit. Native tree plantings that will fill in over time add additional shading and soften the hardscaping in the area. Not only is Reserve 871 functional, it is also aesthetically attractive, connecting well to other parks in the Council’s open space network.

A sustainable and durable design, the playspace utilises sustainable and robust structures that will support a full lifecycle for the project, in addition to being economical and recyclable.

As an additional bonus, the award-winning playground achieved a range of environmental targets with the inclusion of a viable water treatment, retention and harvesting system thanks to works done by the project contractor and Council.

With nothing but praise for Proludic, Amar Zein, landscape architect with Blacktown City Council, claims, “The collaborative approach [between Council and Proludic] has proven to be successful.

“Proludic supplied and installed the equipment as per timeline and therefore the playground was delivered on time. They have demonstrated professional knowledge and experience throughout the entire process.

“Through the contribution of technical playground knowledge and landscape architectural principles, playground design and associated landscape works were developed,” she adds.

One of the unique features of the Reserve 871 playspace is the equipment selection, which hasn’t been used anywhere else in Australia. Awarded the 2017 NSW Playspace Award for playgrounds over $500,000 by NSW/ACT Parks & Leisure Australia, this amazing playscape is innovative and engaging.

CONTACT
Proludic
P   02 9485 8700
E   info@proludic.com.au  
W   www.proludic.com.au

PROJECT PARTICULARS
Location The Ponds, Blacktown
Client Blacktown City Council
Play Equipment Proludic