Design - general - LIM - Open Space Landscape Infrastructure Manual

Design - general

Requirements for the design, manufacture and installation of embellishments.

Warranty and asset life

Table xx: Warranty and asset life

Product/embellishment	Warranty (minimum)	Asset life (typical useful life)
Play space equipment	10 years	15 years ²
Edging (material varies)	N/A	15-25 years ²
Wet pour ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) surfacing	3 years	10 years ²
Play Matta surfacing (or equivalent)	6 years	10 years ²

^{Source 2: Sunshine Coast Council Asset Management Plan 2017/18-2022/23 – Parks and Gardens (figure based on current data, subject to change).}

Once the location of the play space area and kick and throw area has been decided, based on the Environment and Liveability Strategy (ELS) and Recreation Parks Plan (RPP) guidance, consider the appropriate embellishment level to suit the selected site.

Size considerations (Playground):

The RPP recommends minimum sizes as follows:

Council Wide – 1000 m²
District – 500 m²
Local parks – 300 m²
Linear and Civic to be determined on a case by case basis.

Size considerations (Kick and throw):

The RPP recommends minimum sizes as follows:

Council wide park -
- one kick and throw space of 50 m x 70 m and
- 2 x kick and throw spaces of 30 m x 40 m each.
District Park – 50 m x 70 m
Local park – 30 m x 20 m
Linear Park – 30 m x 10 m.

Overarching design considerations:

All open spaces should include universal access (e.g. provide safe clearances, movement around equipment and access to equipment).
Compliance with relevant legislation, standards and corporate documentation (including positioning and equal access guidance)
Design by a professional play space designer, in accordance with Australian standards for play spaces and industry best practice.
Design to minimise risk of injury by installing surfacing material.
Design for provision of shade, either by planting new shade trees at installation, or shade sails, or other appropriate structure as per RPP requirements.
Provision for different ages and abilities
Playgrounds should be designed with a view to reflect:
- the needs of the local community – local landscape character, demographics, demands and identity, through the choice of infrastructure and colour schemes. Community consultation is recommended to engage the user and ensure the best outcome.
- children’s age and development level.
- learning capacity and needs (including considering access for those with a disability).
- park user numbers.
A wide range of activities should be made accessible to disabled children and young adults so they can play alongside their peers.
Playgrounds are to be safe, fun, interesting and inclusive to all users.
Increase children’s opportunity for play by encouraging parents/carers to stay longer. Provide convenient, accessible and comfortable play infrastructure. Provide shaded seating and various seating options/configurations.
Ensure play spaces are designed to allow children to run freely between the formal playground footprint and the wider area. Provide turfed areas and shade trees as part of the play space.
Provide looped pathways and circuits within the play space to encourage the use of bikes and scooters.

Note: CCA treated timber shall NOT be used in play spaces, including any associated open space infrastructure such as fencing and the like. ACQ treated timber would be a suitable alternative.

Play space design

Play spaces must comply with AS 4685 – Playground equipment and surfacing SERIES and AS 4422 Playground surfacing – Playground surfacing, specifications, requirements and test method.

The standard is intended for use by designers, manufacturers and installers of playground equipment, as well as operators of the playground.
The objective of the Standard is to minimise the risk of injury to children using playgrounds by providing guidelines for:
- siting and developing playgrounds.
- product information requirements, instructions and operating procedures to support sound playground design.
- selection of appropriate equipment.
- minimisation of operational hazards.
Particular attention should be drawn towards, AS 4685.0:2017 – Playground equipment and surfacing – Development, installation, inspection, maintenance and operation, which contains information on matters that should be considered before a playground is built.

The standards provide play space guidance on:

planning
site selection
site information/conditions
services
regulations, and the like
playground design
surfacing
shade and sun protection.

Play space design and layout

Play spaces include the site, natural features, built landscape and any manufactured equipment and surfacing. It also includes associated open space infrastructure such as car parking, paths, public amenities (toilets), drinking fountains and picnic facilities.

See LIM Play spaces - Positioning for recommendations for play space layouts and further guidance.

Play space categories

Play spaces are generally broken up into the following categories:

Toddlers to pre-schoolers – Ages 2 to 5yrs. Play focuses on the development of balance, creativity and social role play.
- Equipment that spurs verbal interaction.
- Equipment that supports fine motor skills.
School aged – Ages 6 to 12 years. Play continues to focus on development of gross motor skills, balance, creativity and social role play. Children are testing the limits of their coordination and abilities and have developed most of their basic motor skills.
- Equipment that provides measurable challenges.
- Out of the way corners where small groups can gather.
Teenage – Ages 13 + years. Have developed most of their basic motor skills and are confident with movement and creativity.
- Equipment that supports speed, endurance, strength, agility.
- Places for socialising.
All abilities – Appeals to children of all abilities and provides equal access elements, under surfacing and facilities (see ‘equal access requirements’, ‘accessible and inclusive play’ and ‘all ability play spaces’ for further guidance).
Adults/seniors – In the context of this manual applies to people 18 years +.

Teenagers

Teenage equipment is becoming more popular with the introduction of specific teenage play equipment ranges and hangout areas, for example:

Consider this equipment in areas where there is a large teenage population. Locate in high use areas that are clearly visible to enable passive surveillance.
Teenage equipment should be co-located with other suitable facilities such as basketball courts.

Play and fitness – adults/seniors

A range of play equipment has been designed to increase senior fitness which can also be used by young children, encouraging multi-generational use.

Equipment includes:
- ramps
- snake pipes
- gangways
- balance beams and steps.
Equipment is designed to promote balance, strength and cardiovascular fitness in a safe, play style environment.
The experience can be enhanced by the presence of young children who are also able to enjoy the equipment.
An illustration of this equipment is included, see Figure 17: Elevation of multi-generational exercise station for further guidance.

Parents and carers

The design and layout of the play space should encourage active participation and supervision by parents and carers.

Ensure seating, pathways and play equipment are convenient, comfortable and accessible, to achieve this goal.

Developmental opportunities

All play space designs should consider play elements that provide a range of developmental opportunities for social and physical skills through play, such as:

Development opportunity type	Explanation
Physical	Gross motor skills (spring toys, climbing walls, net climbs) Fine motor skills (musical equipment, activity panels, puzzle panels) Sense of movement (swings, tunnels, flying fox).
Social	Cooperating and integrative play (games, carousel, water and sand play).
Cognitive	Constructive play (such as using buttons, picture recognition, play panels with moving parts).
Emotional	Sensory play (such as natural activity areas, sound play, talking tubes) Imaginative and creative play (hammock, sensory gardens).

testing xxx

6.x heading 2

testing xxx vvvv

gross motor skills (spring toys, climbing walls, net climbs)
fine motor skills (musical equipment, activity panels, puzzle panels)
sense of movement (swings, tunnels, flying fox).

cooperating and integrative play (games, carousel, water and sand play).

constructive play (such as using buttons, picture recognition, play panels with moving parts).

sensory play (such as natural activity areas, sound play, talking tubes)
imaginative and creative play (hammock, sensory gardens).

testing xxx ^^^^

Seven senses

Sensory processing is the brain receiving and organising input from all of the active senses at any given moment. The 7 senses are:

Sense type	Explanation
Sight	The capability of the eyes to detect images. Visual perception is how the brain processes these nerve impulses.
Smell	Olfaction is the ability to detect scent (chemical odour molecules in the air). Odour molecules possess features that excite receptors which is interpreted by the brain to perceive the ‘smell’.
Taste	Gustation is the capability to detect the taste of substances through sensory organs called taste buds.
Hearing	Audition is the capability to perceive sound by detecting vibrations through the ear. Auditory processing relies on how the brain interprets, recognises and differentiates sound stimuli
Touch	Somatosensory system is spread through all major parts of the body. Activity in a sensory receptor is triggered by stimulus such as heat. The signal passes to the brain which allows the stimulus to be felt
Vestibular	Explains the perception of our body in relation to gravity, movement and balance such as being able to walk along a balance beam
Proprioception	Is the sense of the relative position of neighbouring parts of the body and strength of effort being employed in movement such as applying the correct pressure when writing with a pencil

Play spaces

Design - general

Good design

Embellishment requirements