GISBORNE PLAYGROUND UPGRADE STRATEGY OPUS LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE 06 MARCH 2014
CONTENTS CONTENTS 1. Introduction and Location Plan 2. Playspace Design Principles 3. Playspace Design Considerations 4. Condition Study - Adventure Playground 5. Condition Study - Waikanae Beach Playground 6. Condition Study - Botanic Garden Playground 7. Condition Study - Titirangi Reserve Playground 8. Alternative Playground Upgrade Opportunities Opus International Consultants Ltd The Westhaven, 100 Beaumont St PO Box 5848, Auckland 1141 New Zealand Tel: +64 9 355 9500 Fax: +64 9 355 9584 Date: 30 January 2014 Ref: 1-C0698.00 Status: DRAFT Prepared by: Released by: Orson Waldock Landscape Architect Catherine Hamilton Principal Landscape Architect Opus International Consultants Ltd 2013 Botanic Gardens Playground
INTRODUCTION AND LOCATION PLAN INTRODUCTION Playgrounds are a way to provide for experiential learning and development, both of which are most effectively achieved through play environments that encourage creative play. BOTANIC GARDEN PLAYGROUND The following playground upgrade strategy aims to provide a network of play environments which are well distributed, hight quality, easily assessable, well connected, integrated into the landscape and provide play features which meet a range of ages and abilities. The following upgrade strategy will provide a condition assessment for four playgrounds which have been earmarked for further development. This condition assessment will include outline description of the playground, key issue and broad design opportunities. This document will be used as the basis of further concept design work and consequently physical upgrade works. ADVENTURE PLAYGROUND WAIKANAE BEACH PLAYGROUND TITRANGI RESERVE PLAYGROUND Keith Hay Park - Designed and delivered by Catherine Hamilton
PLAYSPACE DESIGN PRINCIPLES PLAYSPACE DESIGN Playspaces are a way to provide for experiential learning and development, both of which are most effectively achieved through play environments that encourage creative play. It can be quiet and contemplative, as well as active and boisterous. Risk taking and challenge have also an important role in children s play and development. It test their own limits or to repeat skills until they have mastered them. 10 DESIGN PRINCIPLES FOR SUCCESSFUL PLAY SPACES 1. Bespoke design considers context and enhances setting 2. Well located, away from dangerous roads, noise and pollution 3. Make use of natural elements 4. Provide a wide range of play experiences 5. Are universally accessible for all children 6. Meet community needs 7. Allow children of different ages to play together 8. Built in opportunities to experience risk and challenge 9. Are sustainable and maintained 10. Allow for change and evolution SPECIFICATION AND MAINTENANCE ISSUES Refer to playground safety standards: NZS5828:2004 Continuing formal inspections of all structures and play equipment and maintain an inventory of common replacement parts Locating play spaces in areas of high passive surveillance to minimize vandalism Ensure shade is provided for both play and seating areas Provide easy access to drinking water and toilet facilities
Children with: Physical, Sensory OR Intellectual impairment Sounds Smells Vision Touch Smooth/ Textured Visceral, Ephemeral Bold Minutiae Tall Snug Physical Cognitive Educational Respite Vestibular Proprioceptive - spatial awarness Fine Motor Skills - co-ordination Graduated Difficulty < 3 3-7 8-12 > 13 Parents Co-existence of ages 1 2 3 5 9 7 8 space and apparatus Taste Social Motor Skills - strenght Hand-Eye Co-ordination Observers Visitors Neighbours - visitors Climate conditions Urban - residential - industrial Shade - shelter - warmth Coastal - beach environment Adjacencies Access to - through Light - water 6 10 4 River corridor Rocking Spinning Sliding Swinging Climbing Rest GISBORNE PLAYGROUND UPGRADE STRATEGY PLAYGROUND DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
CONDITION STUDY - ADVENTURE PLAYGROUND DESCRIPTION This large 4ha site includes both play elements as well as informal open space which supports a wide range of uses such as picnics and community gatherings. This spaces is popular with surrounding residents as well as a regional destination. Several of the play features intersect with a man made lake Play structures are largely timber and offer little play value to toddlers KEY ISSUES Play equipment is distributed widely over an expansive site with little connectively between elements Lack of clustering of play elements makes oversight of younger Play equipment and structures are largely built of timber in primary colours and date back to the mid 70 s. Most equipment offers limited play value given the scale of the equipment, in particular for toddlers and younger children Playground is poorly connected to surround residential neighborhoods ad is largely a drive to destination. DESIGN OPPORTUNITIES Develop connections to surrounding reserves in particular the coastal walkway Provide safer parking options along the busy Awapuni Road Provide a more consolidated play experience which includes play elements suitable for toddlers and younger children Provide play elements which interact with the man made lake including interpretation of local ecology Given the scale of the reserve and its importance as a regional destination it may be that a comprehensive masterplanning process would be a suitable method to progress development of this space yg p Play elements are widely dispersed over the 4ha site (plan sourced from Adventure Playground Engagement Plan)
CONDITION STUDY - WAIKANAE BEACH PLAYGROUND DESCRIPTION The Waikanae Beach Playground is well situated beside the coastal walkway and is surrounded by the SLSC, camp ground and tennis courts. This space incorporates not only play but informal recreation, access to the camp ground, public toilets and a pause point along the popular coastal walkway. Poor wheel chair access over timber edge Outstanding outlook and relationship to coastal walkway KEY ISSUES the beach and maritime environment Raised timber edge reduces access and is unsuitable for wheel chairs users Use of galvanised mild steel structures in coastal environment has resulted in corrosion and accelerated deterioration of poor quality plastic components Playspace does not interface with coastal walkway, few common amenities such as seating, bike racks, drinking fountain or shelter Some compliance issues related to lack of scuff pads under swings and infant and child swing sets both used on the same swing frame Plastic brackets showing sign of failure including exposed screws DESIGN OPPORTUNITIES Integrate playground more closely with coastal walkway, provide shared amenities such as seating, bike racks, shade and a drinking fountain context and provide greater disability access Reduce stepped edge to provide easier access and integration into surround open space Plant trees to provide shade both for play equipment and seating Carryout remedial works to recently installed play equipment environment and makes the most of views, look out structures, sand and water play, rock scrambles etc Swings require scuff pads under swings to maintain safety compliance Space net provides climbing and observation opportunities
CONDITION STUDY - BOTANIC GARDEN PLAYGROUND DESCRIPTION This large playground sits within the grounds of the Botanic gardens and along the edge of the Taruheru River. This playground not only services the surrounding residential catchment and Botanic Garden visitors but also draws visitors from across the region given pleasant setting and ease of access. Little seating is provided in areas of natural shade Play equipment is largely in primary colours KEY ISSUES Contains a mix of historic and contemporary play elements largely in primary colours Some of the older structures such as the giraffes provide little play value Raised timber edge reduces access and is unsuitable for wheel chairs users Playground provides little connectivity with the adjacent river edge, areas of rose planting block physical and hinder visual connectivity Lots of swinging elements but limited climbing and sliding play elements Lack of shade or where shade is available lack of seating Ease of access from Carnarvon St but little connectivity with Botanic Gardens and proposed river front walkway Heritage play equipment offers little in play value Playground has no connection with adjacent river DESIGN OPPORTUNITIES Provide play equipment which related to the surrounding character which is green and river front, Elements could also integrate botanic stories and interpretive material Provide shade trees around gathering spaces and play equipment Better connect with botanic gardens, and river edge including elements of exploration Reduce stepped edge to provide easier access and integration into surround open space Play equipment offers little play value for toddlers Playground is poorly integrated into remainder of Botanic Gardens
CONDITION STUDY - TITIRANGI RESERVE PLAYGROUND DESCRIPTION This compact playground is set below Queens Dr and provides play opportunities adjacent to the busy tourist route which takes in Titirangi Reserve. This playground, although compact and lacking in play value serves as a useful short term distraction to visitors to nearby vantage points. KEY ISSUES Little room for parking along street edge, no physical barrier between street edge and step bank falling away to playground Stepped access limits disability and pram access to playground Little play value in existing equipment, effectively just a series of linked platforms and one slide Platforms offer on views of Gisborne or Yong Nicks Head due to mature trees May pole looks well used but suitable only for older children Few amenities around play space such as seating DESIGN OPPORTUNITIES add further play value Additional vertical play element may be able to be added to provide vantage point to take in views Provide play elements which are more suitable to toddlers Barrier rail along road may incorporated, providing the opportunities for planting and play elements along bank It has been noted that this playground does not serve a large surrounding residential catchment with most arriving by car. It could be consider worthwhile to look at the provision of play facilities in the nearby communities of Inner Kaiti and the areas around Wainui Road as potential areas of improvement with the broader playground network. Play equipments include and interlinked series of platforms and may pole Views from play equipment are obscured by trees Playgrounds offers little play value
ALTERNATIVE PLAYGROUND UPGRADE OPPORTUNITIES KEY ISSUES It has been noted that the areas around Inner Kaiti and Wainui Road are areas with a lack of accessible, quality play provision, within an established residential catchment. The following two reserves made is respect to play facilities. This would provide the community with greater access to inviting, safe, family orientated spaces which support play, learning and well being. 1. Wainui Road Reserve - Currently this large space incorporates a YMCA Centre and Early Childhood Centre. This large area of passive openspace supports passive use and skateboarding but does not include any play elements. 2. London Street Reserve - Currently this compact neighborhood reserve incorporates space for informal recreation and has some limited play equipment including swing set, slide and climbing wall. Areas of improvements would include additional of further play elements, consolidation of play areas, footpath connections WAINUI ROAD RESERVE LONDON STREET RESERVE