Tatterson Park is a large district multi-purpose park located on Cheltenham Road in Keysborough. The park includes a large woodland, three sports grounds, a synthetic soccer pitch, a district level playground, extensive passive open space and wetlands.
The 'World of Insects' Playground at Tatterson Park
Tatterson Park’s existing playground was designed around a ‘World of Insects’ theme featuring ladybugs, ants, beehives and a giant magnifying glass. The themed playground was built in 2009 with the most recent addition of the shade sails being installed in 2016. It is close to the wetland and has a focus on nature.
The City of Greater Dandenong is planning to upgrade the existing insect playground to make it more exciting, inclusive, accessible, and to provide more diverse play, social and recreational experiences. We also want to ensure that the playground can be used by young children as well as provide equipment and activities for teenagers to enjoy.
Stage 1
'World of Insects' Park Consultation
Stage 1 of a two-part consultation was recently completed. Council received an overwhelming response to the community survey and face-to-face consultation and would like to thank everyone who provided their invaluable feedback.
This feedback has informed the development of the Draft Design Concept.
Common themes which emerged from the Stage 1 consultation included:
- The Ladybug, Butterfly and Spider were the top three favourite bugs that participants were keen to see in the playground.
- Flying Fox, Trampoline and Boulder Climbing were identified as the three most important elements for playground equipment.
- Nets and Climbing, Parkour, and the Giant Bugs were the three most favourite play activities.
- Flying Fox, Play Tower, Trampoline, and Parkour collected the greatest number of dots during the ‘dot-mocracy’ survey.
- Feedback also included the need for gathering spaces for people to socialise and the addition of natural elements in the existing playground.
Development of the Draft Design Concept
In response to the common themes raised during the Stage 1 community consultation, a draft design concept has been prepared for the ‘World of Insects’ playground. The ideas that have been incorporated into the draft design concept include:
- A nature and sensory play environment with planted areas and mounds that include new slides and scramble challenges and tunnels to climb through.
- Refurbishment of the existing sand pit.
- Spider, ant and beehive sculptures are retained and relocated. Lady bug play sculpture with sensory elements such as musical instruments.
- Refurbishing the existing playground underneath the shade sails to accommodate the relocated swings and climbing net and introducing a new giant basket swing, an accessible spinner and a ‘Spider’s’ net obstacle course.
- A new Tween/Active Play Zone incorporating a half-basketball court, a double flying fox, parkour and trampolines.
- Planting more trees to provide shady areas and enhance the visual amenity of the playground.
- Adding a new social space and seating within the central area of the playground.
- Retaining and expanding the existing social picnic and bbq spaces surrounding the playground.
- At a later stage, the inclusion of butterfly overhead sculptures in the nature and sensory play areas are also being considered.
The draft design concept will provide the basis for future funding applications as part of Council’s City Improvement Program.
Final Concept Plan
Thank you once again to everyone who participated in the online survey and provided feedback on the draft concept plan for the ‘World of Insects’ Playground at Tatterson Park. Council has been really pleased with the broad cross section of community members’ interest and input in the development of ideas for the playground project.
The ideas that have been incorporated into the final concept design for the ‘World of Insects Playground’ include:
- A spider’s web zone – A scramble net obstacle shaped like a spider’s web to challenge your strength and climbing abilities
- An ant’s mound zone - A nature and sensory play environment with planted areas, new slides on the mounds, the spider, ant and beehive sculptures to climb over, the lady bug play sculpture with sensory elements such as musical instruments and tunnels to climb through. The sand pit would be refurbished and include new play equipment.
- A motion play zone – This active zone includes the relocated swings, a new giant basket swing, an accessible spinner and trampolines to play on.
- A Youth and Tween Zone – This new and expanded area of the playground includes the half-basketball court and a double flying fox.
- Picnic and Social Spaces - New social spaces with tables and seating have been located within the playground.
- Tree planting is also proposed within the playground area to provide shady areas and enhance the visual amenity of the playground.
Latest version of the Tatterson Park Playground Final Concept - 7MB
Staging of the Playground Upgrade
Stage One
Initial works that Council are be undertaking include the construction of the half basketball court, the installation of the double flying fox and tree planting.
Future Works
The next implementation works for the project include the staged refurbishment and upgrade of the existing playground area underneath the shade sails.
The concept design will provide the basis for future funding applications as part of Council’s City Improvement Program.
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Tatterson Park Playground Location
