Case Studies
Yarrabilba’s Darlington Parklands

Design Feature

Type of project
Infrastructure, Playground
State
Queensland
Location
Regional
The Yarrabilba Priority Development Area in Logan City was declared by the Queensland Government on 8 October 2010. Darlington Parklands is the first district park to be delivered by Lendlease as part of a new master-planned community. On completion, Yarrabilba will be home to more than 45,000 people living in more than 17,000 dwellings. Additionally, a town centre, business and industrial park, 11 schools and a wide range of community, sporting and recreational facilities will be co-located. Lendlease’s vision for Yarrabilba aims to fuse the beauty of the natural environment with the convenience of a modern urban community, providing places to live, learn, work and play.
Building a sense of place
As part of their commitment to the Queensland Government, Lendlease constructed Darlington Parklands within the initial precinct of Yarrabilba, with the park opening in January 2014.

Early delivery of this signature park created an awareness of the project and acted as a drawcard to bring visitors to Yarrabilba as well as providing a sense of place for the new and emerging community. The park was designed to grow and evolve with Yarrabilba, meeting community needs and desires and creating opportunities for a diverse range of outdoor uses. It was also planned as an intensive multipurpose amenity providing facilities for all age groups. 

Early delivery of this signature park created an awareness of the project and acted as a drawcard to bring visitors to Yarrabilba as well as providing a sense of place for the new and emerging community. The park was designed to grow and evolve with Yarrabilba, meeting community needs and desires and creating opportunities for a diverse range of outdoor uses. It was also planned as an intensive multipurpose amenity providing facilities for all age groups. 
With planning based on a comprehensive review of established major parks together with community input, Darling Parklands has many key features. These include a water play area, distinct play spaces to cater for children of all ages and abilities, a boardwalk and wetland area, outdoor fitness equipment, a multi-purpose basketball court, large public open spaces, BBQ facilities and shelters and a bespoke market square.
Intertwined with these physical elements are sensory experiences to help promote childhood development, such as the balance beams set among lemon myrtle trees which will eventually grow to form a challenging ‘maze’ for kids or the xylophone musical wall within the toddler play area. In addition, the clever design of the parklands includes a significant corridor of retained vegetation, creating a strong connection to the natural environment from the outset and a beautiful backdrop to the range of spaces and facilities.
Public art pieces, including a mural created by the community, have been incorporated into the parklands to further generate a sense of place in the area. There is also a community noticeboard helping to make Darlington Parklands a central place to activate and connect the local community to all the events, initiatives and activities available to them.

The thoughtful design and physical elements of Darlington Parklands make it a focal point and destination for the community, with many community focused events now held regularly at this central location. Darlington Parklands is also a short walk on Yarrabilba’s ever-expanding path network to the first community garden located at the nearby Shaw Street Ovals. 
Project team
  • Lendlease
  • Economic Development Queensland
  • Logan City Council
  • Yarrabilba Community Association
  • Creative Collective Cultural Community Inc.

Project Cost
Approximately $5 Million
Healthy Value
  • Darlington Parklands promotes a healthy and active lifestyle, catering for all age groups and abilities within the parklands.
  • The parkland itself features a 1.45-kilometre network of paths (inter-connected with the Yarrabilba community’s broader pathway network) and incorporates a wetlands boardwalk to encourage physical activity.
  • The extensive network of off-road dedicated foot/cycle paths means that Darlington Parklands is easily accessible from any resident’s front door, and residents have access to local neighbourhood parks within a 400-metre walkable catchment.
  • The park includes two ‘mini’ pieces of fitness equipment (an outdoor treadmill and exercise bike) designed to allow for children to use them, promoting healthy behaviours and allowing families to utilise the area together.
  • The establishment of a regular fresh food market within the parklands has made fresh, locally produced food and products easily accessible to the community.

Economic Value
  • The establishment of three markets a month has contributed significantly to the local economy and created approximately 150 jobs.
  • The markets have also attracted a large number of people (1,000+ each month) to Yarrabilba, driving considerable foot traffic to the existing retail and café amenities in the area.
  • Darlington Parklands has created a major focal point for the community, making the various business opportunities nearby to the parklands more viable. Economic value of the parklands has also increased with Coles and associated retail and medical uses opened across the road from the park.
  • The parklands have hosted numerous large-scale events that have drawn crowds to Yarrabilba, including the annual Christmas Carols that attracted more than 5,000 residents and visitors.

Environmental Value
  • Darlington Parklands features a significant amount of retained vegetation, including a wetland area. These areas promote a close connection to the natural environment that features prominently in the master planning of Yarrabilba.
  • The parkland works on a water recirculation and filtration system and features integrated stormwater quality management measures, including the wetlands and bio-retention that complements the existing vegetation structure.
  • The parklands have trialled a solar-powered compacting rubbish bin and climate monitoring technology to optimise waste management.

Social Value
  • Through the thoughtful and flexible design of Darlington Parklands, it has become a central place for the Yarrabilba community to come together and celebrate.
  • The monthly Mingle Markets attract more than 1,000 people to Darlington Parklands for a family friendly event. The market includes a free screening of a new movie each month coordinated by the Yarrabilba Community Association (YCA), creating a memorable social event and generating opportunities for families and neighbours to connect within a safe and fun environment.
  • The diverse and flexible spaces within the parklands promote social interaction, from informal games of basketball led by the community’s youth through to organised fitness classes and picnics.
  • The parklands have also hosted numerous community events, including the annual community Christmas Carols (attracting more than 5,000 people to Yarrabilba), the ‘Place of Song’ festival which features international musicians, a National Youth Week ‘Battle of the Bands’ event and annual events run by the community association at Halloween and Easter.

Use Value
Darlington Parklands is a focal point of the Yarrabilba community. It promotes:
  • Health and wellbeing through the interconnected passive and active recreation opportunities.
  • Social inclusion through its design, facilitating community-led events and opportunities for families and groups to come together in a social setting.
  • Art and culture through the well thought out and prominent location of public art and the co-creation of the community’s own artistic mural.
  • Learning and development through the diverse play experiences for children.
  • Economy and enterprise through the bespoke market square and established market events as well as providing an ‘attractor’ in support of the adjacent businesses.
  • Connection to the natural environment through the wetlands areas and significant portion of retained vegetation.

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