When Principal Beth Downie and her team began planning the rebuild, they quickly realised the importance of creating more space for play. “We knew we needed something that fit the environment here—something that felt part of the trees and hills around us,” Beth explained. This wasn’t just about adding equipment; it was about creating a space that worked for the students and the wider community.

The school wanted a natural, seamless design. To make it happen, they needed a partner who could turn their vision into reality. “We had the ideas, but we’re not playground designers,” said Beth. That’s where Creo came in.

Before the upgrade, the play area simply didn’t resonate with the children. “It was quite a grey, drab area where our children never played,” says David White. But now? “Our children love being there. It’s always crowded at break times. It’s colourful, it’s vibrant, it’s bouncy, and it’s completely transformed the whole area.”

The standout feature? A series of mounds that have become the heart of the space. “The most popular feature would be the mounds,” David explains. “Children like jumping from one to the other. They also like sitting on them during playtimes and lunchtimes. In fact, I can’t walk past them without jumping on them as well.”

These mounds allow for flexibility. There’s no fixed way to play, so kids create their own games and activities, sparking their imagination and encouraging social interaction. This level of adaptability has made the space a true hit with students.

It was while browsing Instagram that Katie stumbled upon Creo’s work at Western Heights School. Instantly inspired by the transformation she saw, Katie reached out to see how Creo could bring that same energy to Sunnyvale. “We wanted something colourful, inclusive, and accessible for all children,” Katie said. And so, the collaboration began.

From the first site visit, the Creo team took the time to understand Sunnyvale’s unique needs and values. Working closely with the school community, they sketched out designs that captured the spirit of Sunnyvale Primary. Together, they carefully selected the colours, patterns, and features that would make the new playground come alive. “We worked closely with the community to choose the design that best represented who we are,” Katie explained.

Before the playground came to life, the area was just a grassy field, often unusable due to Dunedin’s winter weather. “It was just grass. But living in Dunedin quite a few months of the year, it really was just unusable,” shared Helen Almey, the deputy principal. The students needed a space where they could gather, interact, and have fun regardless of the weather.