Picture perfect.
ECE playspace stories
If a picture is worth a thousand words, a playspace is worth a million smiles.
A great playspace recognises the inherent value of this result. Behind those smiles are a multitude of stories, activities and accomplishments.
At Creo our mission is to create playspaces that instigate and grow these stories –new worlds that inspire young minds and bodies to laugh, play, and learn.
Our team is passionate about meeting the highest standards of creativity, safety, and durability in our work. For places where every child can explore and create in their way. From concept to completion, our team works hand-in-hand with you, ensuring the process is seamless and that the outcome is something everyone can take pride in.
A quality playspace is one of the most important investments an ECE provider can make. It will ignite curiosity, build connections, and inspire adventure.
And we know, as much as you already know, the numbers that count. Be it counting down from a hundred, jumping (perhaps) a thousand metres into the air, or simply making one new friend, this is a true picture of happiness.
Fit for purpose. Built to budget.
Planning a playspace is a lot like using one. It’s best to start with a sure footing. That’s why our investment guide provides a clear overview of what’s possible in ECE playspaces, giving you the confidence to begin your project on the right foot. We take pride in delivering this assurance, adjusting
both product and process to meet the budget requirements. While the guide below provides a strong indication of costs, further considerations are always needed when finding the right fit for your playspace.
Water Play
• Water tap
Sand Play
• Above-ground sand pit
• Water tap
• Branch log
• Built in ground level sand pit
• Water tap
• Branch log
• Concrete stream with river rocks
• Built in ground level sand pit with edging with designated entry/exits with designated entry/exits
• Incorporated water play
• Incorporated water play
• Rolled edges and sand pit cover
Safety Surfacing
• Natural grass and cushion-fall
• Natural grass and cushion-fall
• Artificial turf and concrete
• Natural grass and cushion-fall
• Artificial turf
• Rubber safety surface with shock pad
Play Equipment
• Flexible set up area with
• Flexible set up area with
• Flexible set up area with movable equipment movable equipment movable equipment
• Bike track
Fencing
• Non-climbable mesh fencing
• Non-climbable mesh fencing
• Bike track
• Mounds, slides and tunnels
• Non-climbable mesh fencing
• Sound wall, bamboo, eucalyptus and glass fencing
Pathways and
• Compacted crusher dust
• Concrete
• Concrete Bike Tracks
• Pour’n’Play (poured coloured TPV rubber granules with shock pad)
Shade
• Trees
• Moveable umbrellas
• Trees
• Fixed shade sails
Te
Kohanga
Reo o Te
Wananga
Whare Tapere o Takitimu needed a vibrant playspace that could tell the story of a journey ‘from the mountains to the sea’ .
The path from concept to completion was a creative collaboration, filled with meaningful insights and careful planning. The vision was to create more than just a play area, it was to build a cultural landmark where tamariki could explore, learn, and play safely.
The inclusion of eels was a unique design feature, this reference to the local whakapapa helping connect the school to its heritage while strengthening a bond with the land.
“It’saplacewherestoriesofourwhakapapa arebroughttolife,whereourtamarikican connectwiththeirheritagewhiletheyplay.”
The playspace is now an essential part of the community, the tamariki delighted by the creative environment that allows them to explore and play, to learn and grow.
“Creo was very supportive in the design process, especially when integrating our cultural elements. The eels, the water, the māunga. They all tell a deeply meaningful story to us.”
The playspace includes:
• A majestic māunga (mountain).
• A flowing water feature.
• A sprawling sandpit.
• Some beautiful eels.
• A living story, a connection to the past, and a promise for the future.
Matua Hook, Kaiwhakahaere / GM
WanaExcel B4 School’s transformative children’s playspace is designed to be immersive, experiential and engaging.
The development of this family-run ECE business was the brainchild of Josh Thomas, who set out to convert a warehouse space into an interactive wonderland for children.
The playspace, which spans indoors and outdoors, encompasses elements that echo the real world—a mini ambulance, store, construction site, and even a mini-golf course.
Creating an ambitious, dynamic space that would continue to enthral children required some clever thinking. The solution lay in incorporating flexible play spaces for
interchangeable elements that could be adjusted to provide a fresh experience over time.
Maintenance and durability were critical concerns. To ensure the space remained as captivating over time as on day one it was built with materials that could endure the test of time.
The result is a play space that exceeded the high expectations of the founders – one that has quickly become a hit with both parents and children.
“We constantly want to push the boundaries and have the best of everything we possibly can. Now we’re here and we couldn’t be happier.”
Josh Thomas, Director
The playspace includes:
• A waka, ready for junior journeys.
• Space for immersive role play.
• Muscle-building climbing walls.
• A sandpit for builds and potions.
• Mini golf for putting and playing.
• A world of learning through play.
With its leafy environs and namesake structure, Treehouse Middlemore Childcare Centre certainly lives up to its name.
The centre was looking for a playspace that could inspire year-round activity and learning, along with a layout that allowed for better supervision.
In the Under Twos area a new layout now offers better sightlines for staff and greater accessibility for children. Two sandpits were combined into one larger space and a water play area added for extra learning opportunities
In the Over Twos area, the raised sandpit was lowered to help reduce spilled sand, with storage added to keep the environment free of obstacles.
New equipment includes a custom Robinia wood fixed-play piece, a water play feature, and various seats. Existing plantings were relocated and incorporated into the playground along with new, low maintenance plants.
Vibrant with modern colour and texture, the updated playspace is now ready for a world of fun.
The playspace includes:
• A journey-ready waka.
• A river-like water feature.
• Plenty of places to climb, jump, balance, and play.
