INCLUSIVE THEMED PLAY AT ITS FINEST

A destination playscape, this unique space is a multigenerational, multiskilled family zone in the heart of the south coast.

With a key focus on accessibility and inclusiveness, the Boongaree Rotary Nature Play Park delivers an array of activities across a broad range of age groups with plenty of exciting and inventive play challenges for the whole community to enjoy.

Located in Berry on the New South Wales south coast, the park reflects a masterplan developed by Shoalhaven City Council Community Engagement that required a multigenerational public space with a multizone play area for juniors and youths.

Drawing on the expertise of playspace design and manufacturing firm KOMPAN Australia, the design brief issued by Council saw two distinct play zones evolve: the Childhood Adventure Zone and the Youth Zone.

In addition to these play zones, the park includes an exercise area, learn-to-ride space, and a Lift & Change suite within a uniquely designed amenity block, as well as picnic facilities, street furniture, water fountains and barbecues, all in a favourable colour palette that reflects the other built elements in the park.

For the play zones, a focus was placed on creating linking towers and large climbing nets to generate play experiences for users that sat above the ground plane, introducing another level of engagement for children five years and above.

The Childhood Adventure Zone includes accessible adventure play equipment with numerous opportunities for creative nature play. Sand and water play equipment, climbing logs and balance challenges abound. Triple-elevated cabins (innovatively disguised as lady bugs) are connected by rope bridges that lead to the cube tower and a large slide, providing plenty of action to keep kids active and engaged.

The nearby Youth Zone offers older children and teenagers the chance to explore a variety of physical adventures, including a flying fox. Going with a Redback Spider theme, KOMPAN installed large Octanets at the centre of this area alongside a Redback Sky Walk with a large red and black striped slide.

A key feature, KOMPAN’s Sky Walks attract children as well as parents, encouraging them to challenge themselves to try the many different climbing routes and experience the structure from both above and below. The high-capacity flexible climbing nets allow users to feel the presence of their companions as they climb together. The structure also allows children to participate from different entry points, which supports social and emotional development and strengthens community bonds.

From the minute you cross the timber bridge into the park,  Boongaree Rotary Nature Play Park is a showcase of colour and texture, with every piece of equipment well thought out and cleverly integrated. The park is arranged along a generous, circuitous pathway that leads users from zone to zone, with picnic areas placed to offer maximum sightlines that make it easy for parents and carers to keep an eye on play.

Rendered in a colour palette of reds, oranges and yellows, accented by steel and eco timbers, Boongaree Park is focused on fun and nature. The layered landscape offers additional sensory interest and really allows the play zones to shine, showcasing pops of colour in native flowers and fluffy textures from ornamental grasses. As Shoalhaven
City Council’s first ‘smart’ park, Boongaree also offers a wealth of WiFi elements for visitors, ensuring fun for all ages combined with modern functionality, all set within a nature-inspired recreation zone.

PROJECT PARTICULARS
Client Shoalhaven City Council/Rotary Berry
Location Berry, New South Wales
Rubber Install Wetpour
Playground Install Star Structures
Civil Contractor Regal Innovations
Landscape Design In-View Design
Playground Design KOMPAN Australia + Play By Design
Engineering & Manufacturing KOMPAN Australia
Project Management KOMPAN Australia + Play By Design