A HOME AMONG THE RED GUM TREES

Giving Greater Dandenong something to crow about, its newest playspace showcases a towering centrepiece with a natural outlook

Ross Reserve in Noble Park has welcomed a state-of-the-art all-abilities playground, with hopes of it becoming a recreation destination for Greater Dandenong. Located between the Noble Park Aquatic Centre and Noble Park Community Centre, Ross Reserve serves local residents, various disability services situated within Noble Park, and the broader Greater Dandenong community.

In collaboration with City of Greater Dandenong and consultant landscape architect firm Land Design Partnership, Proludic, specialist in play design and equipment, was responsible for the design and implementation of its play equipment on this project — including a bespoke Kanopé play tower.

The impressive custom-designed, eight-metre-high double Kanopé Tree Tower boasts enhanced play features that engage children in fun, imaginative and active play. Three exciting tube slides set at different heights off the tower complement a load of climbing challenges.

On the tallest tower, the adventure starts at the foot of the giant ‘tree’ with a thrilling ascent through a three-dimensional net that appears to have been spun by a giant spider! The smaller tower can be entered directly from the accessible ramp built within the playground. A tunnel joins the upper parts of the two towers together, giving adventurous children a thrill as they “climb through space” to the other side.

Treehouse Huts positioned at each level of the towers provide the ideal place for taking a rest and enjoying stunning views of the surrounding parkland through the portholes. On reaching the top of the ‘tree’, children are rewarded with exhilarating rides on the slides down to the bottom where they can begin their climbing adventure all over again.

Other Proludic play equipment installed in the playspace include a wheelchair accessible inclusive trampoline and a series of embankment slides. Additional play structures such as a flying fox, musical play instruments, swings and sand and water play elements surround the tower and serve to spread the fun around.

In addition to the new playspace, Ross Reserve received a range of amenities, from shelters, barbecues, picnic settings and seating to large greenspaces for recreational use and public facilities, including a Changing Places unit, making it a highly accessible space for all users. A concrete circuit path aids in accessibility and weaves throughout the playspace to ensure inclusion for all.

Developed by Council in partnership with the Victorian Government — with significant funding provided through Sport and Recreation Victoria — the brief called for a space that was creative and all-inclusive. The Red Gum ecology of the natural environment was to be maintained, with the overarching landscape character used to connect the different play areas. Proludic’s Kanopè Tree Tower, which is placed in front of a stand of red gum trees, was utilised to meet this brief.

The end result is a playground with a vast variety of play activities for every ability, including accessible, sensory and musical play challenges that mean there is something fun for everyone — a fact that was recognised with a Public Engagement & Community Planning Award.

Given to the consultant team on the project, Ethos Urban, the award endows “initiatives in best-practice public engagement or community planning that achieve an outstanding and innovative contribution to enhance built form, planning processes and social outcomes”. The judging panel of this award was impressed with the extent of engagement in Ross Reserve, as well as how the engagement had ultimately informed
the design of the park.

PROJECT PARTICULARS
Client Greater Dandenong City Council
Location Noble Park, Victoria
Project Consultants Ethos Urban
Landscape Architect Land Design Partnership
Contractor Warrandale Industries
Play Equipment Design, Manufacture & Supply Proludic