Frederick Wachter Reserve

Partners

CLIENT: Greater Dandenong Council
ARCHITECT: Outlines Landscape Architecture

Location

Keysborough, Australia

Market

Councils & Developers

A Feast of Fun

Bountiful market gardens were the inspiration for this new all-inclusive play space, which features customised equipment to provide a full range of sensory, visual and tactile experiences for children of all ages and abilities to share.

Dandenong City Council actively sought feedback from the community to inform and shape the design of the playground at Frederick Wachter Reserve. In the spirit of collaboration, the insights and desires of local residents were pivotal in creating a space that reflects the community’s identity and the needs of the various ages and abilities who will enjoy the recreation area’s facilities.

The playground sits serenely amidst nature, easy-access paths meandering through and around, inviting fun-fuelled adventuring, exploration and discovery. Integrating sensory experiences via the equipment and the natural world that surrounds, this is a play space for children and children-at-heart to connect with each other and the natural beauty of the park. The playground maximises the fun by providing multiple ways for children of all ages and abilities, and their parents and caregivers, to engage in active, healthy, social play and leisure.

Collaboration

The upgrade of an existing neighbourhood level playground to a larger, more inclusive and diverse district level play space is a priority of the Greater Dandenong Council’s Frederick Wachter Reserve Master Plan. Playground Centre customised equipment and signage to reflect the community’s Market Garden theme, as integrated in the final design by Outlines Landscape Architecture.

The council identified the need for a park that would harmonise with the surrounding environment and the community spirit, collaborating with the architect to design a space that complements the natural landscape, integrating elements like wooden structures, native plants, and sensory gardens. The design is further enhanced by the theme where man-made elements reflect the natural world, encouraging imaginative play and adventuring.

Solution

Have you ever swung between asparagus spears or bounced on a lemon? That’s just a taste of the spectacular thrills on offer at the fruit and wetland themed new play space in Frederick Wachter Reserve.

The first crop in the multi-stage build features a vibrant mix of sensory, tactile and visual experiences for children of all abilities, aged two to 14 years, to explore.

Custom carved asparagus spears replace the wooden poles of the Wobbly Wood Monkey Bars Fitness Station and linked Tightrope Walk, while the round, yellow Trampoline Pi puts some lemon zest into the step.

The green Wheelchair Trampoline with slanted fall protection mats makes bouncing accessible to not just to people in wheelchairs, but even teens and adults who want to have a giggle. And the same goes for the bright Inclusive Carousel, ideal for people in wheelchairs with a carer, parents with children in prams, or just heaps of kids.

Toddlers, children and adults alike will enjoy swinging towards each other on the customised five-bay timer Supa Swing Set  featuring the innovative Expression Seat allowing an adult and child to sit face-to-face and revel in each other’s joy.

The park also features the funky Bimbo Basket Swing that can swing one or heaps of kids a full 360°!

Customised alphabet signs with braille alongside illustrations of Apple, Banana and Carrot add another fruitful dimension to the playground.

Kids will love the giant slides, in-ground trampolines, multiple swings, rope climbing nets, sandpit and the grassy expanse to kick around a ball or relax with a picnic. Fully kitted out with restroom facilities and shaded rest areas, this is a space for all to enjoy.

Feeling inspired? Talk to one of our playground design and build specialists today.

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