Ideas for a new playground - Your ideas please.

[gidgeroo]

Hi


Our Council is going to redevelop our closest playground which is currently the most boring playground in the world. We have just received a letter from Council asking us for suggestions prior to them holding a public meeting in September.
I've got a few ideas but I would love to hear yours. :idea:

What's the best thing about your favourite playground?

What your least favourite thing?

On which equipment do your children love playing?

What do they dislike?

What safety features do you think are essential for any playground?

Looking forward to your suggestions.:smiliedance:

cheers
Georgia

[sarah81]

What is the best thing about your favourite playground?
It has the bouncy turf stuff(sorry that is not the proper name) rather than sand which is under all the equipment here is Perth.

My least favourite thing?
Would be playgrounds that are not fenced and have sand under the equipment.

What equipment do your children love?
They love the slippery dip, climbing structure things if they are managable, not too high etc. But mostly they love parks that have something different about them, here in Perth we have a park that is a giant ship structure which is fantastic. Or parks that might have a play train or cubby house. And they love swings, especially the baby swing.

What do they dislike?
Nothing I can think of.

Safety features?
I would say I think that the bouncy turf is preferable and that a playground should be fenced.

Hope that helps, sorry I don't have many imaginative ideas there.

[SilverStarfish]

Definately a fence :thumbsup: I mean, they fence dog parks, so why not kiddie parks - esp when they are near a road.

I agree too about the sand and that bark stuff is almost as bad. We had it in the playground of the nursery where I worked and it was alway getting thrown about, plus the dust from it gets stuck everywhere.

There is a park near us that has a huge big... "tree house" for want of a better word. Lots of platforms joined up by walkways, ropes, ladders and slides. My friend's kids love it. Parts of it are even wheelchair/pram accessible.

Before the water restrictions meant that it had to be turned off, there was a great park at Seventeen Mile Rocks here in Brisbane - Rocks River Park (http://www.sites.ourbrisbane.com/rocks_riverside_park/home/what_to_see_do/adventure_playground). It's still not a bad park, but the water play area made it something special.

[Little Gorilla]

See if you can get plans or pics of the park at Pacific Pines, Hotham Drive, Gold Coast.

So much great stuff for all ages - from just walking littlies to 10 year olds!

Very colourful and creative - lots of little hiddie holes which kids love - big play things that look like boats, trains - flying fox - there is just so much.

IMO, best playground I've ever seen.

edited to add - Couldn't find any pics of the park using google, but I did find this description:-

"This huge park at Pacific Pines is a great place to let the kids run wild and expel some energy. Fully fenced, so great for the little ones this park has a massive flying fox, a sunken ship adventure playground, spinning poles, slides, rockers, swings and a suspension bridge"

[CJJHRA]

they dont have any around here, but I so think they should.. a fenced off area for little ones, so mum can relax a bit too, or especially for those with 2 or more under 5! its so hard to chase 3 active kids aged 2-5!! And alot of play grounds are close to roads

[gidgeroo]

thanks for your suggestions. I like the fence idea and an interesting theme like a ship etc.

:idea:keep the ideas coming.

georgia

[limlib]

The playground in Perth with the ship theme is at Heathcote in Applecross. Check out the website www.greatplaygrounds.org for ideas from around Australia.

[sam's mum]

A fence!
seats for the parents.
a few sets of swings, some with the baby seats. two swings is not enough.
spongy mat stuff on the ground (then the babies won't put it in their mouth)
things to climb on
rocker things on springs for the little kids
the things with a centre pole and cross bar like a T with circle rubber things that you sit on dropping from each end so that you can run around holding it to build up speed and then jump on. (not sure if you get the same picture in your head :fingerscrossed: )
a bike zone with crossings and stop signs and road markings.

ummmm. lots of other things that I can't think of right now.

[Lauz]

slides built into hills are the best because you can not fall "off".. and tunnels can go through the hill too...

some musical bells (not loud) for stepping on etc... kids love them as they run up/down the platforms.

[arthursmum]

Everything that the other ladies said and some trees/shade.
So great that you have so much input.:thumbsup:

[OceBel]

What safety features do you think are essential for any playground? the rubber bouncy stuff. gates so dogs not on a lease cant get in and attack kids.
no bark, that stuff hurts and can scratch the skin. and no sand, dogs **** in sand.

[bipster]

Everything that the other ladies said and some trees/shade.
So great that you have so much input.:thumbsup:

Do you have your new playground now??