What was once an under-used playground is now slowly transforming into a new natural play park, and it’s all thanks to the help of school students.
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Students from the O’Connor Cooperative School helped to put some of the finishing touches on Tuesday to the new park on Finn Street by planting several trees.
The park, which is set to be opened in coming weeks, was designed by the students themselves after consultation sessions with design company Space Labs.
The design includes an outdoor amphitheatre, bridges, a dry-river bed as well as spaces where children will be able to interact with natural elements such as logs.
Space Labs director Geoff Bunnett said the students were integral to the final design.
“We took onboard all their ideas, regardless of how outlandish,” he said.
“We did two workshops and they got to draw their designs out for us, and then we incorporated as many of the ideas as we could into an overall masterplan for the space.”
The space in O’Connor is one of three parks in Canberra that are being redesigned into natural play areas, as part of a $300,000 program by the ACT government.
As part of the design for the Finn Street site, logs for the park were taken from trees cut down during the construction of the light rail on Northbourne Avenue.
It also includes areas for outdoor learning for the school’s many classes.
“There’ll be a meeting space there as well as the opportunity to have performances as well,” Mr Bunnett said.
The school’s principal Jenny Loudon said while although there was a playground in the park at the back of the school, the space was underused for many years.
“We did use the park for outdoor learning as much as possible, but it was only the occasional lesson here,” she said.
“Now we’ll be able to come out and use this space a lot more.”
More than 70 students got the chance to help plant trees and shrubs for the new space, and Ms Loudon said all them have been getting more excited for the new park while watching construction take place.
“They've been very curious since the park was enclosed and work started,” she said.
“They've all been waiting and asking when they can see it so they’re very excited to be a part of it.”
Andrew Brown
I've been part of the Canberra Times since 2016, after reporting at local papers in Sydney's north-west. Since starting at the paper I've had stints on the Sunday Times, on the early morning breaking news round, and now as a general reporter, covering the ins and outs of anything and everything happening in Canberra, with a focus on health.
I've been part of the Canberra Times since 2016, after reporting at local papers in Sydney's north-west. Since starting at the paper I've had stints on the Sunday Times, on the early morning breaking news round, and now as a general reporter, covering the ins and outs of anything and everything happening in Canberra, with a focus on health.
