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Victor Eaves Playground

Revitalising a neighbourhood playspace for a wider age group

Victor Eaves Playground is a neighbourhood playspace located in a busy sports park in Orewa, north of Auckland.

The whole park is in a flood plain, so along with updating the play equipment, Auckland Council asked that the new design address drainage issues, as the playground site becomes very swampy in wet weather.

Initial community consultation conducted by Auckland Council indicated that local families wanted to see some new play experiences, with something more exciting for older children, whilst still retaining a safe play area for little children. The new playspace needed to connect with the existing path network and relate to the nearby bush edge, where children also like to play.

Boffa Miskell was engaged to provide a playspace renewal concept and detailed design package, that delivered on the community’s wish-list within a modest budget.  We used natural low-cost materials to expand the play value achieved within those constraints.

We incorporated requests for a tree hut, ropes and timber to climb and balance on, a spinning element, swings for all ages and a flying fox, into a playspace nestled between the bush edge and the main path.

The playspace was raised above the existing swampy ground and edged with timber steppers and logs to sit and balance on. A central concrete path traverses the level change, allowing accessible entry into the middle of the playspace and providing a mini-scooter track for very little people.

A new basket swing provides for all-age enjoyment, as does the carousel, while a challenging timber and rope construction for older children complements a tree hut for younger visitors. With time, the new plantings will soften the constructed edges and link the playspace with the bush edge.

Our role

Boffa Miskell carried out the concept design and detailed the works for implementation. Implementation was managed through Council, with Boffa Miskell providing technical advice during critical stages of construction.

The facts

ClientAuckland Council
Project teamSarah Collins
Aynsley Cisaria
Project date2016-2018