INTERVIEW WITH GAVIN MENZIES ON GROVE ROAD RESERVE

Q What were the key outcomes you wanted out of the project, and did you achieve them?

A The park is known to locals as Treehouse Park due to a circular grove of established eucalypts surrounding the play space and a, now removed, elevated timber viewing platform.

It was important to retain an identifiable treehouse character for the play space and park. The colour pallet selected for the adventure+ equipment has been very successful at blending tonally with the surrounding eucalyptus canopy emphasising the theme.

Colours from the old play space were also selected to create a link between the old and new, such has the vertical blue painted steel.

Q What were some of the key challenges faced when designing the park?

A For this project we’ve upgraded an existing play space, that wasn’t designed as a play space in its first incarnation. So we’ve been working with an existing footprint, fixed levels, tree protection zones, rotting timbers and unknown drainage assets. Sometimes you don’t know what you’re dealing with until you uncover it.

However the greater challenge has been renewing a space that already had an identity and the community has an attachment to. It’s been necessary to demolish what exists and then replace it with something you truly hope the community will love just as much.

Q What is your favourite part the playground?

A My favourite is the rope net bridge element that lets you see all the way down to the ground underneath you. It’s a great setup that to reach the biggest slide you must cross this see-through bridge to get there. You need a little bravery!

For more information about the Grove Road Reserve, visit adventure+