Omakau & Districts Playcentre's playground, located in Ophir, Central Otago, is currently in the final stages of implementation. The brief started from a parents sketch of what the parents and children were looking for. Rather than using standard modular kitset playground equipment, emphasis is around using the elements of the landscape in which to play. Special care was taken to ensure the historic integrity of Ophir township was not compromised and, for this reason, natural materials are used, bright colours avoided and a water feature even designed to represent a gold miners water race. Spacious safe fall spaces in a rather small area allow the Playcentre to move and use their existing equipment in a safe environment. A looping bike track with a bridge is the central focus of the design allowing practical flow and access to 2 sandpits, a slide mound, interchangeable swing sets and raised garden plots for the children to grow plants in. A large deck ties the building to the landscape and creates a platform from which children can perform or eat their playlunch on the steps. Throughout the design post edging creates stepping stones from which the children can climb their way around the site. The playground has been designed and constructed to withstand the extreme Ophir climate and the changing trends in playground equipment. We were lucky enough to be able work with an extremely proactive community who made this project a joy to be involved with.

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