A PARK WITH A SWEET HISTORY

Situated in the heart of the Australian sugar cane industry, Rotary Park shines proudly with its new agricultural-themed playspace.

Playspace design experts Urban Play, working in collaboration with Hinchinrook Shire Council, have completed an upgrade of a community playground, Rotary Park, in Ingham, Queensland.

A central community hub located along the Bruce Highway, Rotary Park has long been in need of an upgrade to provide an enticing place for visitors passing through to stop and rest, and invest in the local economy during their time in town.

From its early stages, the design of the park centred on the main industry of the region — sugar cane. Going with a “harvest-to-mill” approach, Urban Play included custom-designed pieces such as a cane train, tractor and sugar mill as its central focus.

“We wanted to create a playground that was not only custom-designed for the community, but also screamed with rich play experiences that offer exciting adventures upon every visit,” said playspace designer Nikita Burns.

“By using research-backed play elements, children are immersed in hours of fun and families are encouraged to stay longer, which ultimately boosts Ingham’s local economy.”

Not only does the unique nature of the play structures attract the interest of passersby, it is also an original and fun way to explore the agricultural history of the region, sharing the importance of the industry with each successive generation.

In accordance with Urban Play’s design ethos, the playspace itself is based on universal play principles, meaning everyone can interact together no matter their age or ability. It welcomes all users with its inclusive approach, providing an abundance of ground-level play challenges as well as elevated-level play, and includes clear sightlines for observing parents and carers.

The sugar cane train structure was based on the form, scale and colour of the original Ingham Cane Train. The multileveled play unit is over 11-metres long, taking kids on an exciting and imaginative journey. The open design and ground-level activities of the equipment also make it accessible for all ages and abilities.

Adding to the central theme, the sugar refinery climbing structure is packed full of play elements inside and out. Artistically designed artworks in the form of printed panels help illustrate the sugar cane production process. This multiuse play tower also offers slides of differing heights and graded climbing challenges to suit a range of ages and skill levels.

Further underscoring the agricultural theme, a bright-green tractor serves to highlight the harvesting of sugar cane. Encouraging social and cognitive play with a range of activities and tactile elements, the tractor sits facing the road side of the play zone and draws the eye with its vivid colouring and grand scale.

A wheelchair-inclusive carousel, a three-bay swing with varied seats and a climbing net round out the play zone’s offerings. For the adults, a series of picnic settings make it easy for parents and carers to take a load off while kids continue to frolic across the softfall surfacing of this fun and unique playscape.

PROJECT PARTICULARS
Client Hinchinbrook Shire Council
Location Ingham, Queensland
Design & Construct Urban Play
Certification Urban Play