Case Studies
Scribbly Gum Playground

Design Feature

Type of project
Playground
State
Queensland
Location
Urban
The Scribbly Gum Park and playground at Pelican Waters on the Sunshine Coast was designed in 2015 by Anembo Landscape Architects, with Playscape Creations providing key design input and initiatives for the playground component of the project. The Scribbly Gum Park is designed to provide a series of different spaces that encourage thoughtful play and inter-generational interaction. The public open space provides a variety of sensory experiences, including movement (vestibular system), climbing (proprioceptive system) and a mix of tactile, visual and auditory experiences, giving each child play challenges to meet their needs.
An inclusive and innovative playspace
The client brief was to develop a ‘Neighborhood Destination Park’ with unique, high quality embellishments and design merit for the local community. Extensive research into ‘disability needs’ and education of community leaders into the appropriate level and breadth of disability needs was conducted which led to a design response that featured a layering of activity intensity. The playground includes six zones of play; the Swing zone, the Cozy Dome zone, the Smart Play® zone, two ground level play zones, and the Netplex® zone. Each of these zones offers a different type of play experience and can promote activity and social inclusion in children, which is crucial in developing overall wellbeing.
Inter-generational interaction is encouraged by providing multiple shady informal and formal seating areas around the playground, signage information to share, and a park website that encourages discussions around aspects of the park. People with disability are catered for with generous path widths, accessible slopes and intersections, and signage announcing to all users the values of the park for people with a wide range of disability.
The facility includes shady gardens and intimate hollows with stands to trees, providing quiet contemplative spaces next to existing homes. The park additionally features the open ‘field of dreams’ for structured and unstructured active play. Furthermore, key facilities such as playgrounds, shelters, bike racks, barbeques, and bubblers have been integrated into the design to allow for a destination that meets the physical, recreational and social needs of the community.
The project brief was to provide an exciting destination park that could compete with other recently established parks in the region. Research identified that ‘all abilities’ was not well catered for and there was no ‘senses’ park in particular. Therefore, the concept was developed to provide a park with these unique aspects. The concept was initially taken to the Pelican Waters Development for approval before being passed to Sunshine Coast Council where the design was approved for construction.

The approval documentation was developed into construction packages and supply tenders. Civil construction documentation was reviewed for conflicts and opportunities including existing sewer and storm water that reduced the areas available for installation of structures. Further design development refinements were undertaken as budgets were finalised and supply contracts were let for bespoke furniture, the Playscape Creations equipment, plants and other landscape elements. The parks work officially started in December 2014, was completed in November 2015 and handed over to council in November 2016. 
Project team
  • Anembo Landscape Architects
  • Playscape Creations’
  • Pelican Waters Construction
  • Sunshine Coast Council (SCC)
  • 3rd party peer review by an occupational therapist specialising in play therapy.

Project cost
Approximately $950,000
Health value
  • Each zone of the playground helps children build different physical, sensory and cognitive skills. During development, it is important for children to engage their vestibular sensory system during play, and one of the easiest and fun ways to do this is through swinging. This playground includes a creatively designed swing area that allows for users of all ages and abilities to play, due to the use of different seats for different strengths.
  • The cosy dome climber is a place where children can climb and work their muscles. Furthermore, it can act as a get-away place for children who want a mental break from the busyness of all the sights and sounds of the playground.
  • The playground also includes a specific play feature called Smart Play®: Motion, which is designed to provide children in early development with a wide range of play activities that help them build multiple sensory system skills while they play.
  • The playground’s Netplex® climber system challenges children physically as they climb as well as cognitively as they motor plan and problem solve through new climbing paths. The motion from the climber requires vestibular input as children sway on the structure. There are also attachment play components that require children to use upper body strength, core strength and motor skill execution to move from one area to another.

Economic value
  • The playground acts as a major attraction of Scribbly Gum Park, attracting new visitation and business to the Pelican Waters area.
  • The playground is the final major park at the southern end of the Sunshine Coast Coastal Pathway system and increase the tourism potential for the region.

Environmental value
  • The park is designed to withstand drought by providing deep soils in turfed and garden areas, using positive drainage and drought tolerant native plants. Any pollution is treated by a system of bio basins before any water is discharged into the Pumicestone Passage and protected natural environment.
  • The overall playground design includes planting of trees to create natural shade around the play area and reduce sun and heat exposure.
  • The playground also includes robust long lasting low maintenance furniture and infrastructure such as low sandstone walls that add a nice visual landscape, as well as providing seating for all park users.

Social value
  • The playground provides children with a great space to develop their socialisation skills and develop self-esteem as they walk, run, roll, slide, climb, swing and spin together. The close proximity of each area enables a parent to keep track of several children playing in different areas at one time.
  • The playground also acts as a destination for families to come together and build intergenerational social connections, thus building a sense of place in the Pelican Waters community.

Use value
  • The park can act as a facility to host various community, cultural or special events. Furthermore, it provides a space where community members can engage in healthy behaviors.
  • Anembo have created and developed a Scribbly Gum Park website that provides a social media link for and between park users to communicate. Diagnostics are built in so the creators can identify trends and needs, and consequently respond to the communities changing needs.

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