Picnic tables and benches

Positioning

Site setout

Park users

• Provide shaded seats for spectators or parent/caregiver supervision (with clear sight lines) near activity areas and outside the safety clearances.
• Picnic tables and benches should be provided near areas such as play spaces, under shade for parent/ caregiver supervision (with clear sight lines to play areas).
• Consider the direction of prevailing winds when locating picnic tables and benches near bins.
• Picnic tables and benches can be grouped in clusters to provide gathering places for larger groups of users, and with other embellishments to reduce visual clutter and provide cohesion.
• Provide a selection of picnic table and bench combinations that cater for a diverse population. Parents with prams and wheelchair users can benefit from being located centrally to improve assistance and conversation with other users.

See the following figures for further guidance: 

• Figure 1: Plan - equal access table and benches - single installation with cut out bench
• Figure 2: Plan - equal access table and benches - multiple installations 
• Figure 3: Plan - equal access table and benches - combinations 
• Figure 4: Elevation - equal access table and benches - extended table top (see LIM Picnic tables and benches - Equal access)
• Figure 5: Elevation - typical example, picnic table and bench combinations (see LIM Picnic tables and benches - Equal access). 

Figure 1: Plan - equal access table and benches - single installation with cut out bench

Figure 2: Plan - equal access table and benches - multiple installations 

Figure 3: Plan - equal access table and benches - combinations 

Orientation

• Provide shade by planting trees at the time of installation. Permanent shade structures e.g. shelters, are preferred at local, district and Sunshine Coast wide parks where facilities for picnics are required.
• It is not recommended that picnic tables and benches be installed under mature trees as this can damage tree roots. If absolutely necessary provide pier and beam footings, and excavation for footings should be made by hand or vacuum excavated to avoid tree roots, under the supervision of a qualified arborist.
• Picnic tables and benches should be positioned with respect to sun exposure, with shade trees and shelters sited to ensure benches are protected from the midday sun.

Link areas

• Provide a pathway from the car park to the activity area and associated picnic tables and benches.

Safety

• Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles apply.
• Avoid locating adjacent to plants with leaves with cutting edges, sharp thorns, spikes, poisonous parts or locating them under fragile tree limbs or trees prone to limb drop.
• Do not install picnic tables and benches at locations where they may be used for climbing access onto embellishments such as shelters and shade sails.
• Do not install picnic tables and benches where they may be used for climbing over a fence or wall (such as at fenced play spaces).

Clearances

Table 1: Positioning guidance offsets

_{Note: Picnic tables and benches – other settings, shelter posts and barbecues – minimum distances – see Figures 1 through 5 for manoeuvrability for equal access guidance.}