June 22 | creospace.co.nz
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It’s time to play to your strengths The Playground Builders
Inspiration into action How your new play-space will rise to the occasion
Behind the scenes
Pomaria Primary School & Kristen School Kindergarten
A learning process?
The six most common mistakes when designing and building playgrounds
The Playground Builders
What’s needed to deliver an outstanding, enduring playground in 2022. There are the many different elements to consider for the perfect playground result for your space, your budget and your community. So too, with evolving trends, improving products and changing construction techniques, must consideration must be given to how you’ll design and build this valuable area.
We work at the forefront of the playground design and construction industry, delivering the incredible and the inspirational to clients throughout New Zealand. This work relies on careful process and collaborative purpose to reach the ideal end-result. The three key areas of our work must always be correctly aligned.
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Scope
Design
Build
Planning to succeed
Good ideas prefer company
A steady pair of hands
Key stakeholders need a clear understanding of what is needed right from the start. Only with a focused approach can constructive community engagement and useable feedback deliver inform budgeting and design decisions. Engage a design-build playground specialist early on.
Inspiration can often come from anywhere and everywhere. However, any ideas for your new playground need to be supported by a big picture perspective and pragmatic, budget-first thinking.
Project management on a new playground build is a job best left to the experts. With an expertly considered and coordinated approach, construction can be undertaken without stress or delay.
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CASE STUDY
Apple of their eye Pomaria Primary School The historical background and rich cultural environment of West Auckland’s Pomaria Primary School provided the perfect focus point for a bold and vibrant new play space. With 450 children ranging from Years 1 through 6 and a diverse range of backgrounds and communities, it was important the new playground could be both inspiring and accessible to all year levels. Principal Kevin Choromanski and the school’s project team weren’t willing to settle on everyday equipment and a run-of-the-mill design. They needed a wholly distinctive and memorable space.
Recognising the history of the school’s location was also important. The site had previously been used as an apple orchard, and a theme of health, vitality and growth was certainly appropriate for the new space. Kevin also consulted with the health and PE team at Pomaria to ascertain what the students physically needed out of the space. Each playground piece had significance and purpose, with each working cohesively to create a multi-use play environment. Creo worked with the team to conceptualise a unique design centred around a bright and colourful apple theme – one that would work within the budget and requirements of the school. Continued over page >
“The space is not only used as a playground. It has also become a functional learning area” \ Kevin Choromanski
creospace.co.nz/pomaria
The Playground Builders
“The playspace was created in such a way that it accommodated children of all ages,” says Kevin. “It’s wonderful to go out there and see everyone enjoying it, irrespective of their age, size and height.” The space is not only used as a playground. It has also become a functional learning area – a place where students can undertake what was traditionally classroom specific learning.
The Playground Builders
Pomaria School Auckland
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Circa project cost:
$400k creospace.co.nz
Community in action How destination playgrounds are attracting residents to new developments
And it’s not just children who are benefiting. In New Zealand the importance of a ‘third place’ for community building is increasingly being acknowledged. Coined by sociologists, this ‘third place’ refers to the places where people spend time between work and home. They’re important because people can relax together, share ideas and build relationships.
Those paying attention to recent residential developments will have seen the adage “build it and they will come” play out around the country. But it’s not the usual turn-key packages and show homes that are attracting potential residents.
In the past, village centres acted as the third place for a community. With most commercial activity centred around big-box chain stores these days, a chance encounter with neighbours at the butcher or baker is less likely. Playgrounds are therefore one of the few third places that don’t require visitors to spend money.
By constructing a destination playground in the initial stages, a development can feel like a community – even before the streets are all paved and the residents move in. These dynamic and creative playgrounds are creating a huge amount of excitement among children and young families, with the spaces becoming meeting points for everything from casual playdates to ostentatious birthday parties.
Meeting the need for such community infrastructure was a priority in Christchurch post-quake, and the incredible success of Margaret Mahy Park rewarded the expertise here. Now forward-thinking developers are recognising that value an innovative play space has both for property and community. It is why, rather than show homes and cafes being a key initial focus, some are engaging renowned playground builders first. With innovative playground design and expert construction the playground is becoming pride of place for the community and an attractive destination for visitors.
Rotary Park playground, Wanaka
Karori Park playground, Wellington
The Playground Builders
Cornwall Park playground in Hastings has become a meeting place for local families.
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CASE STUDY
The road rules Kristin School Kindergarten Kristin Kindergarten aspires to grow children’s sense of wonder and playfulness, using both to help cultivate a love for learning. It was hoped a newly designed and installed surface in their outdoor area could help stoke this learning. In 2021, Creo worked with Kristin School on a project to update the outdoor play surface at Kristin Kindergarten. The kindergarten is part of the large co-educational school in Auckland. The previous surface at the Albany kindergarten had become hard, worn, and unforgiving over time. Nigel Wilkinson, director of business services for Kristin School, approached Creo for a proposal. He was impressed with Creo’s vision for the space.
Kristin School was looking for a surface and design that was safe, looked good, and was easy to maintain. They concluded that Creo’s design and suggestions were the best fit for their project. “How they presented the design with a video simulation really helped to sell the playground to us,” said Nigel. “There was good planning, good communications, and during the construction stage we were kept well briefed.” Continued over page >
“There was good planning, good communications, and during the construction stage we were kept well briefed.” \ Nigel Wilkinson
creospace.co.nz/kristin
Kristen School Kindergarden Auckland
Creo’s team of installers worked over summer to meet the school’s deadline of having the space ready for the new year. The result was a safe, colourful and exciting space for the young students and their parents. The cushioned rubber surface is comfortable while working to reduce fall-related injuries. Nigel mentions the new surface’s road tracks as being a specific highlight. “The kids can take their scooters around at lunchtime. I’ve seen them travelling at quite high speeds around that, and it’s great to know that it’s both safe and good fun.”
The Playground Builders
Circa project cost:
$150k
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What are some of the most common mistakes when building a playground? It certainly pays to diligently follow a focused process when scoping, budgeting, planning, designing, and building your playground.
That’s because overlooked small details can have important (and costly) consequences – be it burning slides or dangerous collisions, inaccessible play spaces and inescapable budget blowouts. Here are some of the more common mistakes made when trying to turn a vision of play into a reality.
2. The budget’s not clear. Plenty of concepts and designs are started without a realistic budget. This lack of clarity can cause disappointment when a loved concept is out of reach. As importantly, it can also cause installation delays and compromise quality and safety. Some things that get overlooked when budgeting include: • What demolition and removal of topsoil is required? • Do retaining walls need to be built? • What drainage requirements are required?
1. The user experience is overlooked. First and foremost, every playground should be designed with the end user in mind. Visualise how the space is going to be used in the future to avoid any safety issues or discomfort that might arise. • Is there enough shelter from the wind? • Is there enough shade – and is it in the right place? • Is the slide facing north, where it might get very hot in the sun?
The Playground Builders
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5. There’s a lack of flow and connection through the space. 3. There are non-compliance issues. While it can seem complicated and difficult to navigate, the safety standards are there for good reason. NZS 5828:2015 covers a lot of details about the guidelines that need to be followed. •
Has sufficient safety surfacing been provided for the different equipment heights?
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Is there sufficient spacing between equipment and hard surfaces for fall zones?
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Does the design recognise potential entrapments and any associated risks?
Making sure there is a connection between different elements in the playground doesn’t just make the place look well thought out. It also makes user’s play easier and their experience more enjoyable. •
Are there sufficient sight lines to maintain supervision?
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Is the equipment arranged to provide graduated challenges?
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Are there subconscious entry and exit points with logical flow between them?
6. The design is too focused on aesthetics.
4. Inclusive equipment and playground accessibility has been overlooked.
Having a beautiful looking playground is certainly important. But is that beauty compromising the play value of the space? It’s always important that the play experience is kept front of mind during the planning and design stages.
Decisions need to be made early in the design process about whether the play space will be accessible for all abilities. In this way budget can be allocated to account for accessible play equipment and safety surfacing.
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How much of the budget is taken up by expensive fences or water features?
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Is there enough focus on maximising play value?
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Do you have a range of equipment that can be enjoyed by various abilities?
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Will the end-result be both physically and psychologically rewarding to users?
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How many inclusive play types are there?
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Can the equipment be accessed by those requiring mobility assistance?
Think you’re ready to start planning your playground build? Call us to book your 15-minute playground planning session on 0800 000 334.
Playspace Design+Build
Recent projects In recent times the team at Creo has been hard at work around the country with design-build projects that challenge and inspire, entertain and elevate. Rotorua Lakes High
Kia Ngawari Te Kohanga Reo
Urban Soul Café
Tirimoana School
BestStart Whangaparoa
Shoreland Park
Download the guide: How to build a playground in 2022 We are always seeking to help educate New Zealand in how playgrounds can be designed correctly and built right. Before you consider taking the first step on your play project, get the big picture with our latest guide.
Contents include: • • • •
Establishing how much a playground should cost Catering for different age ranges Discovering a unique design aesthetic Planning for all specific budgeting requirements
Download your copy here:
creospace.co.nz/playground-guide
creospace.co.nz
Call us on 0800 000 334 to book a free ideas session with a Creo Consultant.