Project Type
Infrastructure & Buildings
Timeline
Start: Mid 2016
Finish: Late 2016
OPEN - 8.30am - 9pm, 7 days a week. The playground is cleaned every day for two hours.
ADDRESS - Progress Drive, just south of Hope Road in Bibra Lake.
The 7,000m
2 playground has drawn on local wildlife and fauna as inspiration for many of its features including long neck tortoises, dragonflies, butterflies, native plants and footprints. The concept was designed to introduce children of all ages, abilities and disabilities to the natural environment through play.
The design of the playground incorporated existing tree canopies and included a range of recycled material including disused power poles. The unique design provides families with a variety of ways to learn, explore and play.
A full time Playground Officer has been employed to ensure the grounds are kept clean, the equipment works and the place looks great!
Aboriginal influence
Bibra Lake is a significant sacred site for Nyungar people, reflected through the design of the playground. Giant talking rocks positioned in a yarning circle will teach children local stories and provide information about the lake and its importance to Nyungar people. A yarning circle is a tradition spot for gathering and teaching.
Aboriginal fish traps were the inspiration behind the large basket like climbing frames and cubby houses. Fish traps are the result of moving stone to form a wall or a ‘trap’ so that fish could be easily caught and extracted from lakes or ponds.
For kids
- Double flying fox
- Tree top aerial rope walk
- Rope obstacle course & climbing frames
- Water play area with sandpit
- In ground trampolines
- Seesaws
- Birds nest swing
- 25,000 year old Diprotodon fossil dig
- Grassy play hill and tunnels inspired by Aboriginal stories
- Aboriginal fish traps - large basket-like climbing frames and cubby houses
- Giant talking rocks telling local Nyungar stories
- Giant nest of turtles, mother turtle and eggs
- Water spurting bullrushes.
For parents
- New car parks north and south of the playground
- Picnic areas below existing tree canopies
- 6 accessible BBQs in shelters with sensory lighting
- Change room for people with a disability (a first for Western Australia)
- 8 cubicle toilet
- New trees planted and existing trees retained.
A playground for all
The playground has been designed to be fully accessible to parents and children with a disability. Some of the key features are listed below:
- Perimeter fence
- Pool fence gates - wheelchair accessible with latches allowing wheelchair users access in an out
- Changing places facility- tracking hoists, height adjustable adult sized changing bench, automatic doors and enough space for two carers
- Sound and water play for the visually impaired
- Barbecues – 1st wheelchair accessible BBQs in Australia. Buttons designed for those with limited use of their fingers or visually impaired
- Supportive seating on swings, the flying fox, and seesaws
- Ability to lie on swings – encourages inclusive play with able bodied people
- Ramps and rubber paths - wheelchair accessible
- Disabled parking bays
- A bus parking bay for group visits.
Prohibited at the playground
Gazebos and tables are not permitted
Please note that gazebos and tables are not permitted. The City has received complaints that visitors are ‘reserving’ space within the playground by erecting tables and gazebos. Bibra Lake Regional Playground is a public area, that cannot be reserved. In order to maximise the enjoyment of the whole community, the City requires tables and gazebos to be erected outside the perimeter fence of the playground.
Dogs are not permitted
Unfortunately due to the number of children playing within Bibra Lake Regional playground, Dogs are not permitted inside the fenced area of the playground, however are permitted on a lead outside of the fenced playground area.