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Playspace Design and Build
Green Bay School
Auckland
Replacing a tired old playground with a unique, vibrant, safe and stimulating play space was a big priority for a growing West Auckland school.
Client:
Green Bay School
Location:
Green Bay, Auckland
Circa Price:
$100,000
When it came time to transform long-term ambition into practical action the necessary expertise was close by and ready to go.
The old playground at Green Bay School had certainly seen better days.
For Anand Muthoo, Green Bay’s principal, there were a number of reasons why a new play space was a key priority for the growing school.
“It was simply an old and tired playground,” says Anand. “It did not meet the current health and safety requirements, there were no shade sails and, as it was not big enough, the space didn’t cater for our expanding roll.”
A stopgap measure or piecemeal approach was not an option, as “the whole playground needed attention”.
A safe, seamless and spectacular new playground was non-negotiable. The school needed a project team that could exhibit the same values as the students – respect, initiative and positivity.
During the consultation phase of the work there was much discussion with the school about what stories they wanted the new play space to represent.
Anand didn’t need to look far to find someone to draw up a play space master plan – Creo’s Landscape Architect Larissa Rose has her sons at our school. Of course, convenience is only valuable if it’s backed with capability.
“After assessing other projects Creo had been involved in we were confident they could do the job. Larissa is a trusted member of our school community too – we knew of her credibility and professionalism,” says Anand.
The board of trustees saw the huge value in the new school resource and supported the project from start to finish.
Glen Mitchell, Board Property Chair, worked closely with Larissa to monitor the process and ensure everything aligned from consultation into design and throughout construction.
Respect for the budget, the end-user and the surrounding environment was vital.
During the consultation phase of the work there was much discussion with the school about what stories they wanted the new play space to represent.
The local Whau River was a key focus, and Larissa and the Creo team helped the school bring this story to life through the design.
A metaphorical river now runs through the playground, and the boat-shaped deck alludes to local Māori history on the river, representing a waka as it journeys from place to place along the Whau. Creo also added playful elements with scattered mounds – the soft-fall features encouraging climbing and leaping for the school’s junior students, who have taken to the challenge with gusto.
The main feature of the playground is undoubtedly the large multi-play structure with climbing nets, monkey bars and a twisty slide. The centre net now provides a key focus for balance challenges and the rope nets are often incorporated into games of tag and other imaginative games.
While the space has plenty of twists and turns Creo’s straightforward approach to project management made things easier…
While the space has plenty of twists and turns Creo’s straightforward approach to project management made things easier, Anand stating he “was not chasing people to get the work undertaken – it just got done as promised”.
The general enthusiasm and sense of pride the playground has brought to the school and the community is clear to the principal.
The students are voting with their feet, their hands and everything else as “during the breaks they’re all engaged in the new playground”. They’re not the only ones who are happy with the change.
“The teaching staff were just as excited as our students when the new playground opened,” says Anand.
“Parents are also bringing in their younger children to have a play after dropping the kids off at the school. (It’s been an) unbelievable response.”
Asked what his favourite aspect of the new playground is and the happy principal’s response says it all. “Everything”. For any school considering making the change Anand is happy to share the space with other decision makers too.
“Action speaks louder than words. Come and see our playground for yourself,” he says.
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