MAKING PLAY INCLUSIVE

Built to meet the inclusivity needs of a community, this engaging playspace ensures everyone can play.

Variety Livvi’s Place Lt Cantello Reserve is a collaboratively designed inclusive playspace that celebrates the local environment and provides a unique place where people of all ages and abilities can safely play together and have fun. It features state-of-the-art play equipment, including the first wheelchair-accessible Inclusive Seesaw® in Australia.

With local census data indicating that many people in the area were living with a disability, it was clear that an inclusive playspace would meet the community’s needs. Play equipment specialist Proludic worked with Liverpool City Council, Variety: The Children’s Charity NSW/ACT and Outhouse Design to bring this playground to life.

The playground’s design followed the NSW Government Everyone Can Play guidelines:“Can I get there? Can I play? Can I stay?”. Ease of access for children and carers was central to the design. Featuring a wide variety of inclusive and accessible play equipment, the playground offers a range of activities to stimulate active, quiet, sensory and cognitive play. Extra facilities such as seating, shade, a drinking fountain, planting, toilets and picnic facilities make it a comfortable area for everyone to play and relax.

Catering for up to ninety users, the playground offers seventy-four different play activities. The inclusive and accessible bespoke Adventure Tower with its custom designed graphics is one of the main features of the playground. It includes a giant tube slide, climbing panels and ropes, play panels and sensory activities. A wide staircase with enclosed panels and a transfer platform offers safe and easy access for all children.

Other features that encourage collaborative play include the Inclusive Embankment Slide with a transfer platform, the Pod Swing, a wheelchair-accessible Inclusive Roundabout, Rotofun, Proludic’s inclusive Trampolines, audio and musical play equipment, and Origin Playhouse, which offers quiet and nature play.

Local response to the playground has been positive. Mum Dorothy, whose son Hudson uses a wheelchair, shared her feedback: “Hudson had a blast at the playground, especially as he was able to independently drive his wheelchair around and engage with the play equipment. The variety of play equipment that he could use while sitting in his wheelchair such as the trampoline, the seesaw, the carousel as well as the musical instruments helped Hudson to feel included and have limitless fun.”

Stephanie Rodden, founder of Celebrate T21 and mother of Lincoln, who has Down Syndrome, also related her experience: “What really impressed me was the variety of activities available for children of all ages. Lincoln is a bundle of energy and he found endless fun in the playground’s diverse play options. But his absolute favourite was the big tower slide! I couldn’t get him off it. He must have gone down that slide a dozen times, laughing with joy every single time.”

“As a parent, I also appreciated the details that Proludic had taken into account. They provided seating for parents like myself, allowing me to sit back and watch Lincoln’s adventures unfold. The wheelchair accessibility and variety of inclusive playspaces was a huge plus, ensuring that everyone could join in on the fun.”

PROJECT PARTICULARS

COMPANY Proludic
CLIENT Liverpool City Council
LOCATION Hammondville, New South Wales
LANDSCAPE DESIGN Outhouse Design