SAILING INTO PLAY

A nautical-inspired playscape offers children, parents and grandparents a place to come together and interact through play.

Hoist the mainsail and release the jib! Nautical-themed adventures are guaranteed at Spinnaker Park, the latest state-of-the-art waterfront recreation space located in Newport, Queensland. An emerging Stockland development, Spinnaker Park provides for a host of recreation activities on and off the water, including a fun new play zone designed and installed by Urban Play.

Working in collaboration with CUSP Landscape Architecture, Eureka Landscapes and Touched by Olivia, Urban Play helped to deliver a multigenerational playground that encourages the whole family to get outside, soak up the sunshine and play. Designed for children of all ages and abilities, the Spinnaker Park playspace sits adjacent to the Newport Retirement Living Project, making it the ideal area for children, parents and grandparents to meet, socialise and play together.

The playground’s nautical theme inspires children to set sail on their imaginations across the high seas. The centrepiece of the play zone, a colossal 11-metre-high sail tower, navigates an ocean of softfall surfacing and sand to offer multilevel climbing activities, two fast slides and a bird’s-eye view across nearby Newport Lake for would-be sailors. Entry to the custom-designed tower is achieved via an elevated ramp that runs alongside, serving as an accessible entrance. Additional slides flow off the ramp along with a climbing net, providing yet another level of play for mermaids and landlubbers alike.

Play surfaces and equipment were carefully selected to integrate into the surrounding environment. “We wanted to design a playground that celebrates the beach lifestyle that Australian families know and love,” said playground designer Ben Urban.

“An intergenerational design approach was taken to design a play environment that caters to all ages, with equipment offering a wide variety of play activities that challenge and evolve children’s physical, social and cognitive development to help them be healthy, happy and confident,” he added.

For little squids, a toddler sail-tower outfitted with climbing activities, a slide and peep holes encourages social interaction at a pint-sized level. In addition, the playspace holds a sand and water play tower, and a Robinia play ship that encourages children to be the Captain of their own adventures, advancing their physical skills and developing their capacity for imaginative play.

The 3D climbing net invites mini explorers on a climbing expedition filled with sensory-rich play elements. As they make their way through the challenging rope labyrinth, they improve their cross-body coordination and logical thinking skills planning which way to go next, while the swaying seats provide a place to rest and passive play opportunities that let them sit back and take in the view.

Finally, bright blue, circular rubber mounds — like bubbles on the water’s surface — sets up a spot for kids to bounce, sit or stand that also adds another visual dimension to the playground design.

The Spinnaker Park playspace challenges the status quo of playground design and construction. Its solidly anchored design offers a unique play experience every time, while its architectural forms and materiality chart it as a play destination that stands apart, projects quality, and provides endless hours of fun for all ages and abilities.

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PROJECT PARTICULARS
Client Stockland
Location Newport, Queensland
Landscape Architect CUSP Landscape Architecture
Contractor Eureka Landscapes
Playspace Design & Install Urban Play