Case Studies
Lions Park
Design Feature
Type of project
Local Government Initiative
State
Queensland
Location
Regional
The Lions Park redevelopment in Gladstone is the result of a collaboration between Playscape Creations, JW Concepts, HNK and Gladstone Regional Council.
Appealing to the senses
The project included the development of a playscape, which was designed with a particular focus on sensory engagement and encourages people of all abilities to play together. The park is split into seven sections, each focused on a different sense, and was officially opened to the public in December 2017.
Gladstone Regional Council received funding approval of $3,318,716 (excluding GST) under the State Government's Works for Queensland program for the construction/equipment components of the redevelopment of Lions Park. In addition, in its 2016/17 budget, Council made an allocation for this project of $225,000 for design, planning, coordination, preparation, project management and approvals.
Gladstone Regional Council received funding approval of $3,318,716 (excluding GST) under the State Government's Works for Queensland program for the construction/equipment components of the redevelopment of Lions Park. In addition, in its 2016/17 budget, Council made an allocation for this project of $225,000 for design, planning, coordination, preparation, project management and approvals.
On 29 April 2015, Council held an initial community meeting with key stakeholders on site to determine community desires and expectations for the future of the park. This meeting delivered a list of community requests which were listed and prioritised during construction.
The development of Lions Park in Gladstone was guided by the following objectives:
Gladstone has a strong industrial history, so the overall form is based on cogs’ interaction with each other and providing islands of play and recreation space connectivity. Every aspect of this park is unique with special elements that engage and inspire children to test their limits and challenge their abilities.
The overall design incorporates sensory features. At night there is the addition of motion activated lighting and misting allowing for increased use of this destination playspace.
Design strategies were also incorporated to enhance the passive surveillance and CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design) principles, and to minimise the complexity of maintenance and long-term costs in order to hand over a high-quality asset to Gladstone Regional Council at the end of the project.
- Explore the interplay of industry and nature as narrative.
- Explore industrial elements of Gladstone as a regional centre and a port town.
- Explore how play can link the incongruent relationship between industry and nature.
- Allowing opportunity to explore this interplay with sculptural and functional play structures.
Gladstone has a strong industrial history, so the overall form is based on cogs’ interaction with each other and providing islands of play and recreation space connectivity. Every aspect of this park is unique with special elements that engage and inspire children to test their limits and challenge their abilities.
The overall design incorporates sensory features. At night there is the addition of motion activated lighting and misting allowing for increased use of this destination playspace.
Design strategies were also incorporated to enhance the passive surveillance and CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design) principles, and to minimise the complexity of maintenance and long-term costs in order to hand over a high-quality asset to Gladstone Regional Council at the end of the project.
The Lions Park redevelopment provides new opportunities for the area such as:
- Developing a sense of place via a connection to the natural edge of Police Creek, which has historical cultural significance for local Indigenous groups.
- Providing connection and establishing interface, commercial and park user zones . Opportunities to link an external activity with the park design.
- Links through the park connecting existing formal and informal paths to create a narrative through the park that connects active, passive, natural, formal and informal spaces.
- Identifying nodal areas that can create opportunities and improve access and encourage multi-use of areas.
- Seating that allows engagement and enjoyment of the active, passive, natural, formal and informal spaces.
- View corridors through the park to natural areas such as significant trees and Police Creek.
- Developing a sense of place via a connection to the natural edge of Police Creek, which has historical cultural significance for local Indigenous groups.
- Providing connection and establishing interface, commercial and park user zones . Opportunities to link an external activity with the park design.
- Links through the park connecting existing formal and informal paths to create a narrative through the park that connects active, passive, natural, formal and informal spaces.
- Identifying nodal areas that can create opportunities and improve access and encourage multi-use of areas.
- Seating that allows engagement and enjoyment of the active, passive, natural, formal and informal spaces.
- View corridors through the park to natural areas such as significant trees and Police Creek.
Project team
##
- Gladstone Regional Council
- Playscape Creations
- JW Concepts
- HNK Project Management
- McMurtrie Consulting Engineers
- Property Technologies
- JM Kelly Constructions
- Local stakeholders
- Gladstone Regional Council
- Playscape Creations
- JW Concepts
- HNK Project Management
- McMurtrie Consulting Engineers
- Property Technologies
- JM Kelly Constructions
- Local stakeholders
Project Cost
##
Approximately $3.5 Million
Approximately $3.5 Million
Health Value
- Lions Park is a truly intergenerational park which encourages visitors to be active, social and connected. The seven different zones provide a rich diversity of physical, mental and emotionally stimulating activity.
- The art components are not just aesthetically pleasing, they also provide numerous attributes for visual and tactile stimulation, cause and reaction and social connection.
- Research on All Abilities Design – Beyond Accessibility also formed a great focus with proprioceptive seating to support people with mental health issues and sensory processing challenges so they can stay longer in the environment.
Economic value
- The park redevelopment has provided new opportunities to connect with the established commercial zone of the shopping centre adjacent to the park.
- Being a destination park, Lions Park has become a recreational sensory haven for the community and there has been a significant increase in the use of the park.
- Lifting a previously undesirable location to an appealing space has increased economic activity to the surrounding businesses.
Environmental Value
- Protection of significant environmental waterways adjacent to police creek.
- Maximising water quality outcomes from the site by removing exotic weed species and managing site drainage issues.
- Reinforcing existing local indigenous vegetation that was retained and incorporating new plantings of shade tree and groundcover vegetation that is also locally native to the site.
Social value
- Building social capital, resilience, empowerment and capacity of community members – a unique sensory haven for the Gladstone community that they can be proud of and feel supported by their Council who truly care about their needs.
- Opportunities for social connection/engagement – Each zone of Lions Park offers social engagement and connection, regardless of age, gender, cultural background or ability.
- Increasing community safety – Artistic motion activated lighting creates safe access through the space and sight lines at night where people ‘cannot hide’.
Use value
- The park is a “people first” design which embraces 24 hour activation, all seven senses and inclusive accessible design.
- Accessibility is encouraged through wide pathways connecting the various areas and play activities.
- Provides sensory rich activities such as water-play and tree canopy exploration.
- Promotes connections to the existing natural elements on the site.
- Promotes connections with the site history and greater region of Gladstone, integrating themes of culture, heritage, industry and nature.
- Established significant trees, groves and palms.
- Wildlife of the creek such as migratory Birds, Turtles, Eels and Frogs.
- Plants such as Nardoo waterlilies, sedge grass, paperbark trees and Eucalyptus stands.
- Allows opportunity for nature to inform design - promoting views, sensory experiences and natural forms that inspired the sculptural and functional play structures.
References
\- Playscape Creations - Lions park - Lanscape Structures - Know Me cards
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