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When designing something it pays to consult the client – the end user – even when they are children.
Doing this has worked particularly well for Auckland Council’s community facilities department, which has been working on replacing the playground at D’Oyly Weir Reserve in Stanmore Bay that is at the end of its life.
Early in the process, last year, the Council team consulted the public, including a group who are known to use this playground a lot – the children of nearby Stanmore Bay School who play there on their way to and from school.
There were two meetings with Stanmore Bay students which resulted in a lot of feedback, including drawings of what the children imagined the playground could be.
High on their wish lists were mazes, hamster wheels, nature play, monkey bars and a flying fox. They preferred the natural shade of trees to shade sails.
The concept design shown to the Hibiscus & Bays Local Board at its recent workshop showed that the children’s feedback had been taken on board. It includes a planted maze, overhead climbing bars, a hamster wheel, a Maori jumping game and trees for shade. The structures have been designed so that the popular game ‘the ground is lava’ can be played.
The Council team say when the plan was taken back to the school, the children were very positive about it and are excited to see it built. It is hoped that construction will take place next February-April.
Next cab off the rank for renewal work is the playground in Edith Hopper Reserve. This is near Whangaparāoa School and after the success of the D’Oyly consultation, Council will engage in a similar way with those students too.
